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Water-related disasters inhibiting global sustainability
18 March 2013, source edie newsroom
In a meeting on risk reduction at the Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters, convened in New York by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the session looked at how disasters reverse development gains and inhibit sustainable progress.
Speaking at the meeting, senior vice president of AECOM, Scott Edelman, stated: "Data collected from global storm databases indicate that water-related disasters have killed 1.3 million people and caused $2 trillion worth of damages since 1992."
The Crown Prince of Orange, Willem Alexander, who will ascend to the Netherlands throne next month, said: "One water-related disaster can wash away years of progress, inhibiting the ability of communities to reach their Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets."
The President of the General Assembly, Vuk Jeremić, highlighted the role of 'risk drivers' that are changing the nature of disasters.
"The impact of extreme weather events is being multiplied by unplanned urbanization, increasing population pressures, and declining eco-systems," he said.
The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Chief Margareta Wahlstrom added that "governments alone cannot be held responsible for addressing risks; the imperative lies with all societal actors including communities and businesses."
Edelman also stressed the importance of the private sector's role in identifying and assessing risks, and then communicating them effectively to communities so that mitigation efforts are strengthened.
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© Faversham House Group Ltd 2013. edie news articles may be copied or forwarded for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent. | <urn:uuid:c9a012d0-4cc1-4d92-a08d-2290d8b100ce> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.edie.net/news/4/Water-related-disasters-inhibiting-global-sustainability/24243/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922952 | 380 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Tit for tatMeaning: A blow or some other retaliation in return for an injury from another.http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tit-for-tat.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
"Bhikkhus, for anyone who says, 'In whatever way a person makes kamma, that is how it is experienced,' there is no living of the holy life, there is no opportunity for the right ending of suffering. But for anyone who says, 'When a person makes kamma to be felt in such & such a way, that is how its result (vipaka) is experienced,' there is the living of the holy life, there is the opportunity for the right ending of stress."
Thanissaro Bhikkhu writes:
.. Another school, the Jains, accepted the Vedic premise that one's actions shaped one's experience of the cosmos, but they differed from the Vedas in the way they conceived of action. All action, according to them, was a form of violence. The more violent the act, the more it produced effluents, conceived as sticky substances that bound the soul to the round of rebirth. Thus they rejected the Vedic assertion that ritual sacrifice produced good kamma, for the violence involved in killing the sacrificial animals was actually a form of very sticky bad kamma. In their eyes, the only way to true happiness was to try to escape the round of kamma entirely. This was to be done by violence against themselves: various forms of self-torture that were supposed to burn away the effluents (asava), the "heat" (tapa) of pain being a sign that the effluents were burning. At the same time, they tried to create as little new kamma as possible. This practice would culminate in total abstinence from physical action, resulting in suicide by starvation, the theory being that if old kamma were completely burned away, and no new kamma created, there would be no more effluents to bind the soul to the cosmos. Thus the soul would be released.
Despite the differences between the Vedic and Jain views of action, they shared some important similarities: Both believed that the physical performance of an action, rather than the mental attitude behind it, determined its kammic result. And, both saw kamma as acting under deterministic, linear laws. Kamma performed in the present would not bear fruit until the future, and the relationship between a particular action and its result was predictable and fixed.
These divergent viewpoints on the nature of action formed the backdrop for the Bodhisatta's quest for ultimate happiness. On the one side stood the Ajivakas and Lokayatans, who insisted for various reasons that human action was ineffective: either non-existent, chaotic, or totally pre-determined. On the other side stood the Vedic and Jain thinkers, who taught that physical action was effective, but that it was subject to deterministic and linear laws, and could not lead to true happiness beyond the round of rebirth. The Buddha's position on kamma broke from both sides of the issue, largely because he approached the question from a radically new direction.
... To begin with, every act has repercussions in the present moment together with reverberations extending into the future. Depending on the intensity of the act, these reverberations can last for a very short or a very long time. Thus every event takes place in a context determined by the combined effects of past events coming from a wide range in time, together with the effects of present acts. These effects can intensify one another, can coexist with little interaction, or can cancel one another out. Thus, even though it is possible to predict that a certain type of act will tend to give a certain type of result — for example, acting on anger will lead to pain — there is no way to predict when or where that result will make itself felt.
The complexity of the system is further enhanced by the fact that both causal principles meet at the mind. Through its views and intentions, the mind keeps both principles active. Through its sensory powers, it is affected by the results of the causes it has set in motion. This allows for the causal principles to feed back into themselves, as the mind reacts to the results of its own actions. These reactions can form positive feedback loops, intensifying the original input and its results, much like the howl in a speaker placed next to the microphone feeding into it. They can also create negative feedback loops, counteracting the original input, in the same way that a thermostat turns off a heater when the temperature in a room is too high, and turns it on again when it gets too low. Because the results of actions can be immediate, and the mind can react to them immediately, these feedback loops can sometimes quickly spin out of control; at other times, they may provide skillful checks on one's behavior. For example, a man may act out of anger, which gives him an immediate sense of dis-ease to which he may react with further anger, thus creating a snowballing effect. On the other hand, he may come to understand that the anger is causing his dis-ease, and so immediately attempt to stop it. However, there can also be times when the results of his past actions may obscure his present dis-ease, so that he doesn't immediately react to it at all. This means that, although there are general patterns relating habitual acts to their results, there is no set one-for-one, tit-for-tat, relationship between a particular action and its results. Instead, the results are determined by the entire context of the act, shaped by the actions that preceded or followed it, and by one's state of mind at the time of acting or experiencing the result.
In this way, the combination of two causal principles — influences from the past interacting with those in the immediate present — accounts for the complexity of causal relationships on the level of immediate experience. However, the combination of the two principles also opens the possibility for finding a systematic way to break the causal web. If causes and effects were entirely linear, the cosmos would be totally deterministic, and nothing could be done to escape from the machinations of the causal process. If they were entirely synchronic, there would be no relationship from one moment to the next, and all events would be arbitrary. The web could break down totally or reform spontaneously for no reason at all. However, with the two modes working together, one can learn from causal patterns observed from the past and apply one's insights to disentangling the same causal patterns acting in the present. If one's insights are true, one can then gain freedom from those patterns. This allows for escape from the cycle of kamma altogether by developing kamma at a heightened level of skill by pursuing the noble eightfold path.http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... e.html#act
See http://dharmafarer.org/wordpress/wp-con ... 3-piya.pdf
and http://dharmafarer.org/wordpress/wp-con ... 6-piya.pdf | <urn:uuid:7ded990a-bc0f-41d4-91d7-df97f9b67d77> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?p=155268 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00068-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966695 | 1,519 | 2.71875 | 3 |
NEW YORK (AP) -- A funny thing happens on Kickstarter, the website where people ask for money to finance their projects. Sometimes, they get more money than they ask for.
Sometimes, they get millions more.
In April, three-person startup Pebble Technology sought to raise $100,000 to make 1,000 wristwatches that can be programmed with different clock faces. Donors on Kickstarter showered them with more than 100 times that amount: $10.3 million. It would have gone higher had Pebble not put a cap on contributions and ended the fundraising early.
"We had tried raising money through the normal routes, and it didn't really work," said Eric Migicovsky, the 25-year-old founder of Pebble.
Kickstarter is the largest of dozens of sites devoted to crowdfunding, in which donors contribute small sums of money to get a project off the ground.
Inventors, artists and entrepreneurs post their projects on a Kickstarter page, usually with a video presentation. They set a fixed duration for their fundraising, from one to 60 days, and a dollar goal for contributions. Anyone can contribute. If the goal isn't reached by the deadline, no money changes hands and the project is cancelled.
Usually, the contributors get something beyond the satisfaction of knowing they helped turn a dream into reality - like a ticket to a theater production, or in the case of Pebble, a programmable watch.
Designer Casey Hopkins asked for $75,000 to make a luxury iPhone dock out of solid aluminum. He got $1.4 million. When that happened, in February, his was the first Kickstarter project to surpass $1 million. There have been eight more since then. Artist Rich Burlew asked for $57,750 to put his comic books back in print, and ended up with $1.3 million.
Since launching in 2009, Kickstarter has raised $323 million for projects. Starting a project is free, but Kickstarter takes 5 percent of contributions if a project is funded, and Amazon.com Inc. takes another 3 to 5 percent for processing the payments. The funds are usually subject to taxes as well.
Crowdfunding started as a way to fund band tours and albums. Kickstarter wasn't the first site of its kind. It is, however, the most successful. Co-founder Perry Chen has said that the site was born out of his frustration at being unable to organize a concert. But it's becoming a potent launchpad for tangible products as well, upending in some cases the usual way things get made.
There's a time-worn route for entrepreneurs: They come up with an idea, find funding, make a product, sell it, then pay back the funders - with interest or an equity stake in the fledgling company. Under that model, funders are usually looking for a big payoff on their early investment.
Finding funding is, of course, where many projects hit the rocks. Those who put up money for a project have to be convinced that it will yield something others want - and that's not easy to figure out.
For contributors to take part in a Kickstarter project, all they have to do is ask themselves: Do I want that?
In that sense, Kickstarter is a great way to sell things that don't yet exist. In effect, Pebble sold 85,000 watches, and artist Rich Burlew sold 94,000 books. Now, they just have to make these things.
Migicovsky, the Pebble founder, is based in Silicon Valley, where venture capital runs in rivers. He got some funding from "angel investors" - wealthy individuals - early on and produced a small run of watches last year. But to realize his vision of a programmable watch that only needs to be charged once a week, he needed more money. The venture capitalists, who generally invest bigger sums than angels, didn't bite. They're used to backing Web and software projects but are apprehensive about hardware, he says.
So Migicovsky went to Kickstarter, figuring he'd raise enough money for a production run of 1,000 watches. But the project got attention from technology blogs, and the orders started pouring in. Over 37 days, he sold one watch every 38 seconds. Frantically trying to satisfy the orders, he hired six people in two weeks, tripling Pebble's staff.
The watches will be ready this fall - without the help of venture capital.
"You want to spend your time talking to customers. You don't really want to spend your time talking to venture capitalists. Because at the end of the day, they're just guys with money," Migicovsky says.
The success of Pebble and others is clearly attracting more ambitious projects. A Los Angeles-based startup, Ouya, is collecting money to create a game console. It set a $950,000 minimum - reflecting the complexity of competing against the PlayStation, Xbox and Wii - and hit $8.6 million in pledges.
David Tisch, the founder of "startup accelerator" firm TechStars, says posting a product on Kickstarter is a great way to gauge demand. If it turns out to be strong, that can make it easier to attract investment that can turn the project into an ongoing business.
"For the first time, there's a way to get customer feedback with money | <urn:uuid:09c034cb-0029-4cb7-bc78-9166e1a6bb6b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kypost.com/dpps/news/science_tech/kickstarter-projects-generate-millions-of-dollars_7772368 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96451 | 1,091 | 1.789063 | 2 |
THE team of Scouts are one of four groups climbing Britain's highest peaks where they will create the sparks to ignite the Paralympics Games flame.
SCOUTS have lit the Paralympic torch on top of Britain's highest mountain.
They climbed 1,344m (4,409ft) through thick fog and rain to reach the peak of Ben Nevis in Fort William.
Four scouts worked alongside climber Kevin Shields to light the flame using kindling and a large steel spark.
The flame was placed in a lantern and brought down the mountain for its journey to Edinburgh where it will light a ceremonial cauldron.
The four scouts live close to Ben Nevis and were chosen to represent their communities.
Jason Ridgley, 18, Joseph Tangnay, 16, Christina Sheffield, 16, and Robyn Gunning, 15, set off on the trek at 6am and reached the summit at around 11.30am.
Scottish sports minister Shona Robison said: "I am very proud of the group of individuals that will help fire up the nation behind this special moment and stir our athletes to go for gold at the Paralympic Games.
"It is an inspiration to everyone that the flame will have a little piece of Scotland at its heart."
Four Scout groups set pff to climb to the top of the UK's highest peaks separately on the day the first athletes began arriving in London for the opening of the Paralympic Games in a week's time.
They set off at dawn this morning to try and reach the summits in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland by mid-morning.
Expected to take around four hours for each climb, the teams set off up Scafell Pike, England's highest peak, Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland, Snowdon in Wales and Ben Nevis in Scotland - the UK's highest point.
The flame will then be placed in a miner's lantern and brought back down on foot before being transferred to each country's capital for a day of Paralympic celebration.
Chris Foster, spokesman for the Scouts, said all four groups were excited and honoured as they set off on their expedition this morning.
While being the first to the top is not an issue, it seems the weather has favoured the Slieve Donard climbers.
Mr Foster said: "The weather in Northern Ireland is brilliant and they are the lowest peak.
"As they've got less distance to travel and because the weather is good, they're expected to get there first.
"The weather for the others is okay but the concern is Ben Nevis where thunderstorms are predicted because, of course, they have to create a flame when they get to the top."
Each of the teams was looking forward to the climb this morning, he said, and showed no sign of nerves.
"As an organisation we're absolutely honoured to be part of this symbolic occasion," he said.
"The synergy between what the Paralympics represents and what scouting represents - it enables all young people to become Scouts and do what they aim for, which is exactly what the Paralympics does." | <urn:uuid:4894db96-4cdd-49aa-978f-47f0338396d0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scouts-climb-ben-nevis-for-paralympic-1273787 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961767 | 643 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Bryson's best for England.Byline: ANTHONY BARNES
A BOOK by a US author best sums up England's identity and state of the nation in the 21st century, a survey reveals.
Notes From A Small Island, by Iowa-born Bill Bryson, was chosen after months of voting in a poll for World Book Day. Also shortlisted were George Orwell's 1984 and George Monbiot's Captive captive
said of naturally wild or feral animals kept in captivity for educational and scientific investigation with no attempt being made to domesticate them. State.
Bryson, who lived in the UK for 20 years, said: "I'm both grateful and surprised to receive this honour. We are just about to move back there so it's especially pleasing my affection for the country has been recognised now."
Notes From A Small Island gives an outsider's view on a last trip around Britain before returning home, analysing what he loves about the country:
He wrote: "Here is a country that fought and won a noble war, dismantled dis·man·tle
tr.v. dis·man·tled, dis·man·tling, dis·man·tles
a. To take apart; disassemble; tear down.
b. a mighty empire in a generally benign benign /be·nign/ (be-nin´) not malignant; not recurrent; favorable for recovery.
Of no danger to health, especially relating to a tumorous growth; not malignant. and enlightened way, created a far-seeing welfare state - in short, did nearly everything right - and then spent the rest of the century looking on itself as a chronic failure." | <urn:uuid:5d29dc6a-709b-436e-8218-a9b6ce7b4e54> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bryson's+best+for+England.-a098408743 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934397 | 350 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Last year at about this time, I promised some details on a Sudoko-generating algorithm. This puzzle is the third application of the algorithm. The fourth estate has discovered mathematicians applying some serious number theory to the Sudoko, including others working on algorithms.
My own puzzle-generating algorithm is much simpler. In working on it, however, I've begun to wonder whether there aren't puzzles out there that are simply mappings of other puzzles. That is, given a pattern of clues and a pattern of numbers, aren't there other puzzles with the same pattern of clues that simply change the values of the numbers.
Many have written their own Sudoku puzzle generators and solvers. Jonathan Kane, a professor of mathematics and computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, wrote a program to generate and solve puzzles of one of six degrees of difficulty. His program uses logic rules and guessing to create a puzzle and then rates the puzzle based on the difficulty of the logic rules needed to solve it and on the number of guesses required.
Laura Taalman, associate professor of mathematics at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., has written a computer program with her husband, Phil Riley, to generate Sudoku puzzles. Their puzzles often incorporate some variation in the grid as well as symmetry of the clues. To rate a puzzle, the computer plays the puzzle a thousand times in different ways, and then a difficulty rating is assigned based on the average time it takes the computer to solve the puzzle.
I'm also intrigued by this.
Just for fun, I'm tempted to create a 16-clue puzzle and invite readers to find "cooks" (chess-problem language for more than one solution) to it.
They still aren't sure, though, about the minimum number of clues needed to guarantee a puzzle will have only one solution. More than 40,000 mathematically distinct Sudoku puzzles with 17 initial clues have been found, but not a single one with 16 or fewer clues is known to exist.
Gordon Royle, associate professor of computer science at the University of Western Australia, has been collecting these 17-clue puzzles since 2005. Royle and other Sudoku enthusiasts have written computer programs to generate Sudoku puzzles in search of the elusive 16-clue puzzle that has just one solution. | <urn:uuid:a4bd428a-cc29-49e6-87d6-af4eb8760746> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://coldspringshops.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952498 | 474 | 2.484375 | 2 |
Driving professionals offer information on new permit laws
TORRINGTON >> A recent trend showing teenagers waiting longer to obtain their driver’s license has led to new law requiring new adult driver to obtain a learner’s permit.
The three-month permit will require all new drivers over the age of 18 to take a knowledge and vision test, as well as an eight-hour safe driving practices course before taking the road test for a driver’s license.
Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Melody Currey said cars are more sophisticated today and traveling roads can be more dangerous for inexperienced drivers.
“Cars are more sophisticated today, traveling roads can be more dangerous for inexperienced drivers and some form of a learning period is required now for those over 18, just as we have done for those under 18,” said DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey.
Local driving professionals like All-Star Driving School General Manager Brandon Dufour lobbied to pass the bill, seeing from experience the dangers inexperienced drivers pose on the roads.
“We were thrilled that the bill passed, because it’s one stepping stone towards adding more safe driving measures for adults,” All-Star Driving School General Manager Brandon DuFour said. “Safe driving doesn’t come with age, it comes with experience.”
Dufour said about fifty percent of his students are adults. Under the previous law, adults only needed to take an eight-hour safety course before obtaining a license in Connecticut. Dufour supported the new law because drivers need much more practice on the road.
Driving school demographics have changed through the years, said Dufour. Less teenagers are applying for a license as soon as they turn sixteen. Many wait until they’re 18 nowadays when they leave for college, or move out of the house, thus surpassing the requirement for driver education..
“There are so many factors young people wait to get their licenses, like social media-they don’t have to be at each others’ houses to be connected,” Dufour said. “Economically, a lot of parents these days don’t have the money for a new car and insurance, and also teenagers aren’t needing cars to get to typical jobs like scooping ice cream, because those jobs are being taken by unemployed adults.”
Connecticut State Police Public Information Officer Lt. Paul Vance said increasing requirements for adult drivers should reduce the amount of accidents caused by inexperience each year. Continued...
“This was definitely a step to in the right direction, I give the kudos to the DMV,” Vance said. “What was happening is that younger people were not trying to get their licenses at 16 and 17 because they felt too much was being asked of them, so they were waiting until they turned 18 to avoid the headaches. By making new drivers get more experience on the road, it will benefit everyone.”
All-Star Driver, Connecticut’s Leader in Driver’s Education, is a family owned, family operated driving school with a headquarters in Watertown CT. All-Star Driver’s roots are in the student transportation business, but extended into new driver training in February of 2009. With over 40 years experience in the traffic safety business, the transition into new driver training made perfect sense. All-Star Driver now holds classes in 66 locations around Western Connecticut.
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Guide to Religious Services
Note: All listings are paid advertisements.
Unity in the Foothills
102 Prospect Street, Torrington, Ct 06790
A Course in Miracles Tuesday evenings 7 p.m
Transformational Prayer Group Thursday 1:15 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.
Northfield Bible Church
10 Camp Hill Road, Northfield, CT 06778
Bible Doctrines Class: Sunday at 9:00 a.m.
Sunday Service at 10:00 a.m.
Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
Pot Luck Supper every 4th Friday of the Month at 6:15 p.m.
ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
First Assembly of God
387 New Harwinton Road, Torrington, CT 06790
Sunday School for all ages 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Worship Service at 10:45 a.m.
Family Night Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Adult Bible Study Prayer Service: Saturday at 9:15 a.m.
Cable 5 Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 3 p.m.
CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
Founders Congregational Church
41 Birge Park Road, Harwinton, CT 06791
Sunday School and Services 10:00 a.m.
Bible Study: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday at 10:00 a.m.
Center Congregational Church
155 Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790
Sunday Services and Church School at 10:00 a.m.
Note: All listings are paid advertisements. | <urn:uuid:28b4271f-6632-4b51-85bd-875598aa3ea8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://registercitizen.com/articles/2013/01/15/news/doc50f63c8ae4d26193394746.txt?viewmode=default | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935783 | 1,294 | 1.710938 | 2 |
The immune system protects the body against “foreign invaders” such as bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause disease. Certain proteins and other molecules of these invaders are known as antigens, and the immune-system defenses of the body respond to antigens by producing antibodies (see Infections: Introduction to Infections).
Drugs can be used to affect the immune system in several ways. Specific immunotherapy is perhaps the most familiar type—it involves giving a specific antigen (such as a vaccine) to cause a specific, controlled immune system response. As a result, vaccines can provoke effective, and often very specific, longterm immunity. Nonspecific immunotherapy can cause the immune system to produce proteins and other compounds that strengthen immunity. It may also give the immune system an overall boost to help it resist infection. Nonspecific immunity includes adjuvants, which may be added to a vaccine to increase its effectiveness, and immunostimulants, which may be given to treat longterm disease in which the immune system may be suppressed.
Types of Vaccines
Several types of vaccines have been developed for use in animals. Traditionally, vaccines were grouped according to whether they contained living or killed organisms. Killed organisms are not as likely to provoke a strong immune response (providing immunity) as living ones. Because of this, vaccines that use killed organisms frequently also include additional compounds, called adjuvants, intended to increase the overall effectiveness of the vaccine. A killed vaccine may contain the entire killed organism or just the portion of the organism that provokes the immune response. A Type 1 recombinant vaccine is also classified as killed.
Although vaccines that include live organisms tend to be more effective, there are some challenges involved in developing them, because the live organisms can also cause disease if not modified in some way. Attenuated vaccines are vaccines containing live organisms that have been altered so that they are less likely to cause disease. They can reproduce, which will cause the animal to mount a strong immune response. However, even if vaccines are attenuated, they can sometimes revert to virulence, causing the disease they were intended to prevent. To further ensure safety, Type 2 recombinant vaccines, or gene-deleted vaccines, were developed to safeguard against attenuated vaccines reverting to a form that can cause disease. The specific genes that cause disease in the host are found and deleted. The resulting vaccine includes live organisms that can reproduce and generate a strong immune response in the host, but can never cause disease.
Live vectored vaccines, or Type 3 recombinant vaccines, are an alternate method of inducing strong immunity with no risk of reversion to virulence. Using technology, the genes that code for a protective protein are removed from the disease-causing organisms and placed into a “vector” organism that does not cause disease. This vector reproduces in the host, producing high levels of the protective protein. The host develops a strong immune response to this protein, which then protects it from exposure to the original disease-causing organism. These vaccines are essentially free of adverse effects and are very stable.
DNA vaccines make it possible to immunize an animal by just injecting it with the DNA coding for a protein from the disease-causing organism. In addition to preventing diseases, DNA vaccine technology can also be used to treat diseases, including certain cancers.
In most countries, the production of vaccines is strictly controlled and regulated by government authorities. All vaccines are checked for safety and potency.
The simplest and most common method used to give a vaccine is with an injection in the muscle or under the skin. This can be done with a needle or a new needle-free injector. Intranasal vaccines are also available for specific diseases, but they can be difficult to give, especially to large animals. Vaccines can also be given in feed or drinking water, a method that is most often used in the poultry industry. Fish can be vaccinated by immersion in a solution of antigen, which is absorbed through their gills. Transdermal (absorbed through the skin) vaccines are also being developed.
Vaccines stimulate an immune response, which lasts a varying amount of time depending on the specific vaccine and disease-causing organism. This means that a specific method and schedule of subsequent vaccine administration is needed to maintain immunity. In young animals there are challenges to mounting an immune response that must be considered, including the age of the animal and overcoming the immunity passed to the newborn by the mother. In mature animals some vaccinations must be given yearly, while vaccination every 2 to 3 years is sufficient to ensure immunity with others.
Pet owners should work with their veterinarian to determine the best vaccination schedule for their animal(s). Information on which vaccines are generally recommended for dogs, cats, and horses are found in the Basics chapters for these species. There are few vaccines available for other species of pets. Ferrets should be vaccinated against rabies and canine distemper. Psittacine birds (parrots and parakeets) should be vaccinated against avian polyomavirus.
Modern, commercially produced, government-approved vaccines are generally very safe. The most common risks with vaccines include injection-site reactions (such as pain or swelling, which usually subside within a short time), allergic responses, incomplete inactivation, disease in animals with compromised immune systems, neurologic complications, and, rarely, contamination with other live agents. The stress of vaccination may be enough to activate an infection already present in the animal. Hypersensitivity reactions—which range from mild to anaphylactic shock—can also occur. All animals should be observed for a period of time following vaccination. Discuss with your veterinarian what signs you should watch for. In rare cases, certain vaccines have been linked to development of a type of skin cancer in cats at the site where the vaccine was given (see Skin Disorders of Cats: Vaccine-associated Tumors).
In addition to vaccination, there are other ways of creating or increasing immunity against disease. Passive immunity involves one animal producing antibodies by active immunization, and then transferring those antibodies to a susceptible animal to confer immediate protection. The natural (and very important) form of passive immunization is the transfer of maternal antibodies to offspring across the placenta and in the colostrum (the first milk that is full of essential antibodies). Antisera may be produced in dogs against distemper and in cats against panleukopenia (also known as feline parvovirus enteritis). The effects of passive immunity are only temporary, however, as they only last for as long as the transferred antibody lasts, generally a few weeks.
In the same way, antibodies can be harvested from a portion of the blood to create immune globulin, which can then be given to another animal to provide immunity. For example, tetanus immune globulin (tetanus antitoxin) is given to animals and humans to confer immediate protection against tetanus.
Last full review/revision July 2011 by Philip T. Reeves, BVSc, PhD, FACVSc; Jörg M. Steiner, DrMedVet, PhD, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA; Dawn Merton Boothe, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVCP; Maya M. Scott, BS, DVM; Ian Tizard, BVMS, PhD, DACVM; Jozef Vercruysse, DVM, DEVPC | <urn:uuid:04f9f536-2904-4eea-9c1d-6d956520f6be> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.merckmanuals.com/pethealth/special_subjects/drugs_and_vaccines/vaccines_and_immunotherapy.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949757 | 1,530 | 4.21875 | 4 |
In one week, school kids will walk into their classrooms and take on the more challenging math problems.
“Our new textbooks reflect the common core standards which is a completely different kind of standard the old standards for math have been.” Director of secondary curriculum Allyson Morgan said.
Each grade will have different changes made to their lessons.
“Elementary will focus on basic arithmetic skills get those down really well, master it.
Middle school will work more in groups, project based, real life world situations and high school is getting them college and career ready.” Instruction coach at Beverlye Magnet School Jeanie Solomon said.
And even though the work will be harder, teachers think it’s a good thing.
“There’s much more application for the students. It’s not just being able to work a problem its being able to take that problem and analyze it and apply it into a real world situation.” Beverlye Magnet 8th Grade math teacher Wanda Richards said.
And the curriculum now adopted in 45 states will make it easier for families who move around, to transition easier.
“In the past all states have had their own standards. So if we got another child from out of state, we didn’t know where he was in his math education. All their standardized test scores not might look like ours.” Solomon said.
This will now make teaching more transferable throughout the United States.
School board officials say in the past, something taught to a second grader will now be taught in kindergarten.
|Get the ingredients you need to cook with Rach all week long.|
|Full length exclusive concerts from hot artists.|
|Take a break!
Classic Pacman, Frogger, Asteroids and more.
Sell almost anything locally. | <urn:uuid:fe108831-de34-475d-8f12-80c2bb8286cc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wtvy.com/news/alabama/headlines/Common-Core-Curriculum-165656006.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950439 | 380 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Some kids like to wash their hands, but Sarah does it too much. She wants to stop, but her hands just don't feel clean enough and she can't make herself turn off the water. Sometimes she scrubs her hands until they are red and raw. After eating, she feels she has to wash again.
Because she spends so much time washing, Sarah has to rush to get to school on time. At school, she tries not to touch doorknobs or handrails, worrying that if she does she may catch a serious disease.
Sometimes, Sarah gets behind in her classwork because she feels that she needs to keep checking it over and over. During a quiz or test, she checks and rechecks every answer and erases anything that isn't perfectly straight or neat. Sometimes she erases so hard it tears the paper, but she can't help it.
Sarah gets a bad feeling that if everything isn't exactly right, something terrible may happen. All this worrying, checking, and fixing takes so long that Sarah hardly ever finishes the test before time is up. So even though she knows the work, she often gets an incomplete mark or even fails.
Sarah tries so hard to hide her habits. She worries that she might be going crazy or that people would think she's weird if they knew what she was doing. Sarah knows that the time she spends washing and checking could be spent having fun with friends or doing her schoolwork, but she can't seem to stop herself. That's because Sarah has obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD).
What Is OCD?
OCD is a type of anxiety (say: ang-zye-uh-tee) that happens when there is a problem with the way the brain deals with worrying and doubts. Kids with OCD worry a lot. Sometimes they feel afraid that bad things could possibly happen to them, sometimes they feel that something bad could happen to people they love, or sometimes they feel like they have to get things "just right" and have to check to make sure.
Like Sarah, some kids with OCD are afraid of getting dirty or catching germs. Others always worry that their parents will get sick or hurt. Some kids feel that they have to say things a certain number of times, ask questions over and over again, or keep things super-clean as a way to keep bad things from happening.
Some kids even worry about thinking bad thoughts. They sort of believe that thinking bad things could make them come true.
Some kids may also worry about things being out of "order" or not "just right" and they may worry about losing things that other people feel are useless, or feel the need to collect them.
People with OCD worry so much that they can spend many hours, or even the whole day, worrying about things and trying to make sure the bad things they worry about don't happen.
Of course, it's normal to worry now and then. Everyone does. Kids may worry about getting lost or that something will happen to their parents. They may sometimes feel afraid that they will get sick or hurt. It's normal for kids to worry once in a while about burglars, fires, or earthquakes.
Sometimes, worrying can help kids learn how to be safe and careful. Normal worries come and go without causing too much of a problem.
But OCD is much more than normal worry. Instead, the worry is really intense and it can happen over and over again. With OCD, the brain replays the worry thoughts and if nothing is done, the worry feeling can get worse and worse.
These frequent worry thoughts are called obsessions (say: ob-sesh-unz), and the behaviors people do to try to make the worry thoughts go away are called compulsions (say: kum-pul-shunz).
What Are Obsessions?
A kid who has OCD might have obsessions about illness or injury or cleanliness. And these obsessive worries just don't quit. The brain keeps repeating them instead of moving on to something else. It can be a lot like that awful song you hear that gets stuck in your head. No matter how much you don't want to hear it, your brain just keeps playing it back. The difference is that the obsessive thoughts come with anxiety, and the anxiety doesn't stop until there is a behavior that makes the thought "go away."
Having upsetting thoughts that you can't get rid of can feel terrible and scary. And having so many worry thoughts can make it hard to concentrate on anything else. OCD can take the fun out of almost anything.
With OCD, someone may have obsessions about:
germs or dirt
illness or injury (involving the person or someone else)
coming across unlucky numbers or words
things being even or straight
things being perfect or just right in a certain way
Compulsions are the behaviors, or actions, that someone with OCD does to try to shut down the worry thoughts or make the thoughts "go away." Another name for compulsions is rituals.
People with OCD hope that doing compulsions will prevent the bad things they worry about from happening. They believe that doing a certain ritual will make the bad feeling go away and, for a while, it often does.
Some kids may have a difficult time explaining a reason for their rituals and they do them "just because." But in general, by doing a ritual, someone with OCD is trying to relieve anxiety, feel safe, or prevent that "certain something" from happening.
Of course, plenty of people who don't have OCD have rituals or behaviors that are important to them. Maybe you tap your pencil three times before starting a tough test or sing a certain song just before diving off the high dive. Perhaps you have a lucky number or even a lucky pair of socks.
But OCD compulsions are much more than doing something just for luck. Kids with OCD feel they haveto do certain things over and over to feel protected or make the anxiety go away. Kids with OCD don't really want to be doing rituals. But when you have OCD, performing the rituals seems like that's the only way to feel safe from bad things happening.
Sometimes, the more kids with OCD do these rituals, the more they feel like they have to do them. Kids with OCD can end up spending so much time on rituals that they have little time left for the things they really do want to do.
Here are some OCD compulsions:
lots of hand washing or showering (doing this way more than usual or having a hard time stopping)
counting (like having to count 25 white cars before going into school)
touching (like touching every single fence post between home and the bus stop)
checking things over and over (such as doors, locks, or stoves)
doing things a certain number of times (like having to try on five dresses before leaving your room)
arranging things in a very particular or neat way
asking the same question over and over
tying and retying shoes over and over until they feel just right
Obsessive-compulsive disorder isn't contagious, so you can't catch it from someone like you can a cold. And kids with OCD have not done anything wrong or bad to get it. It's not their fault that they have it.
Nobody knows exactly how and why some people get OCD, though scientists are beginning to learn about it. Experts know that:
OCD runs in families. Many kids with OCD have another person in their family who has OCD or another type of anxiety. Exactly how OCD is passed on in a family is not yet known, but scientists are trying to learn about genes that may get passed on that make people more sensitive to worry problems like OCD.
OCD comes from a problem with the way the mind handles messages about fear and doubt. This problem probably has to do with the chemicals that carry messages to nerve cells in the brain. If the flow of these chemicals gets "blocked," or if there is not enough of them, messages about doubts and worry seem to get "stuck." This leaves a person with a feeling that something's not right and creates lots of worry thoughts.
Who Gets OCD?
Kids with OCD are not alone. In the United States, more than 1 million children and teens, both boys and girls, have OCD. That's about 1 in every 100 kids and teens. In some studies including adults, OCD was reported as commonly as 1 in 50 people. You might know someone who has OCD and not even realize it.
What's Life Like for Someone With OCD?
Living with OCD can be very hard. Compulsions often take up lots of time and energy, making it hard to finish homework, do chores, or have any fun. Some kids even find it difficult to go to school or make friends. Sometimes kids feel ashamed. They know the behaviors seem silly to other people, so they often keep it to themselves. It can be really difficult to talk about OCD! But dealing with something all alone can make it even harder.
Sometimes, even parents and friends who know about a person's OCD have a hard time understanding that OCD is not just a bad habit. They might act impatient or make it seem like a person could just stop if he or she tried hard enough.
But with OCD, the need to do rituals can feel too strong to ignore. Some kids say that OCD is like hearing a constant, nagging voice that tells them bad things could happen if they don't do certain things. Some kids say it seems like OCD takes over everything.
Treatment can help kids with OCD get better. OCD is treated in two ways: with medicine and behavior therapy.
Medicines that help brain chemicals work properly can help kids with OCD. How? These medicines can make the obsessions and compulsions feel less intense and also help tone down the worry and fear. By itself, medicine doesn't completely fix OCD, and many kids with OCD don't need medicine to get better. But for some kids, medicine sure does help.
With or without medicine, a special type of "talk therapy" is the most important part of treatment for kids with OCD. This type of therapy is called cognitive behavior therapy (also called cognitive-behavioral therapy). For most kids with OCD, cognitive behavior therapy helps them learn to deal with anxiety, to face fears, to resist compulsions, and to slowly but surely conquer OCD.
What's Behavior Therapy for OCD Like?
Lots of mental health specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors (also called therapists) are trained to do the cognitive behavior therapy that works for OCD. The therapist might start by just getting to know the child and parents. The therapist might ask about favorite activities or TV shows, pets or hobbies, or particular sports.
The therapist will also ask some questions about problems with worry and rituals that a kid has been having. Then the therapist will explain about OCD and how the cognitive behavior therapy works to help it get better. The therapist will help parents understand the kid's OCD and what they can do at home to help it get better, too.
In cognitive behavior therapy for OCD, kids learn different ways to deal with their worries without doing a ritual. At first, it may seem hard to stop doing rituals, but the therapist can teach kids how to feel safe enough to try. It's definitely tough at first, but if they stick with it, kids begin to feel stronger and braver against OCD.
After learning about ways to get their worries under control, kids start to practice them. As with anything new (such as playing the piano or kicking a soccer goal), the more someone practices, the better he or she can do it. When kids practice what they learn in behavior therapy, they find out it actually works!
Kids with OCD usually go to therapy about once a week (or sometimes more often) for a while, then less often as they begin to get better. Getting better can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.
It's important to remember that with some help, kids with OCD can get better. Kids usually are really relieved when the symptoms of OCD get weaker and they begin to feel stronger. It feels good to be free of OCD! | <urn:uuid:753b1c34-797a-4223-aced-bd267d0825bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=Nemours&lic=60&cat_id=20070&article_set=20769&tracking=K_RelatedArticle | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973957 | 2,518 | 3.1875 | 3 |
The Role of Androgens in Prostate Physiology and Pathology
This project is examining the specific sites and roles of androgen action involved in prostate mature prostate.
Prostate cancer (PCa) is an androgen-dependent disease and constitutes a major health problem in Western countries now the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Australian men. Most men display signs of malignancy in the prostate at some point in their lifetime yet only a minority will suffer from overt PCa or die from it. This implies that crucial mechanisms operate slowly and are susceptible to interruption, if early stages of PCa development and progression are better understood. Furthermore, Nobel-prize winning work more than 60 years ago identified androgen deprivation, as still the only form of treatment for advanced incurable prostate cancer. Castration by medical or surgical means can halt PC progression temporarily and prolong life, but it cannot cure the disease and comes at a high price for men in deterioration their quality of life. Hence androgen action is critical to the development, progression and cure of prostate cancer. Yet, remarkably little is known about how testosterone initiates and promotes prostate cancer. Signaling via the androgen receptor (AR) is believed to be critical for carcinogenesis and progression of the disease. However exactly which cells and what signaling mechanisms are involved remained mysterious. Better understanding of androgen action on the prostate may lead to more effective prevention and treatment. For example, new treatments that interrupt androgen action only within the prostate without needing to cause androgen deficiency throughout the whole body would be a major advance. This goal requires better understanding of precise cell and tissue localization of androgen action in prostate. This however is a very challenging task because of intimate structural and functional relationship of epithelial and stromal tissue within the prostate. Fortunately new genetic tools have become available to undertake such research by inactivating AR selectively within specific tissues within the prostate. This project is examining the specific sites and roles of androgen action involved in prostate mature prostate.
- Using the Cre-LoxP system develop mouse lines with fixed or inducible knockouts of the AR in the prostate epithelium and/or stroma. This work will allow us to examine whether androgens act primary via either tissue and how they then influence other prostate tissues. Using out unique transgenic mouse models we will gain new insight into the cell specific action of androgens within the prostate.
- How functional AR signaling pathway is involved in the initiation, progression and eventually the terminal stage of androgen independent prostate cancer.
Want to find out more?
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is: 197 | <urn:uuid:f5907b7e-7d01-4f94-bf7b-03be71679f70> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sydney.edu.au/research/opportunities/opportunities/197 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.915698 | 530 | 2.046875 | 2 |
Friday, May 18, 2012
When I asked my social networks what they thought was the best language to learn to program with, most said Python. I've always heard great things about this as a first language, so I went along with it. But one person said Processing, a language / tool I have been using for a while. After learning a few basics of Python, I'm wondering if Processing really would be a better choice.
I started learning Python from the official beginner's guide (specifically, the Python Tutorial), designed for those who know how to program. They also have a list of tutorials for non-programmers, but I didn't look at any of those. Almost right away, I found myself thinking, 'Really? This is supposed to be easier for beginners?' The tabbing to define blocks, the somewhat frightening look of the official interpreter, the strange syntax with colons and range functions in loops... I just imagined myself saying, "Trust me, you'll understand this later" to an awful lot of things.
But, to be fair, I was looking at the documentation for experienced programmers. Maybe if I read a source for beginners I could see the value a bit more easily.
So I put a copy of Invent Your Own Computer Games With Python on my Kindle and started reading. This book aims to teach programming from the ground up in the context of games. Considering how most programming books work, this one seems to approach things in a more interesting way. Even still, the author has to pause from the context of the game being made and discuss the programming concepts for pages. And he still has to note that certain syntaxes are beyond the scope of the book, or that you'll understand some particular thing later on.
I thought Python was supposed to get rid of this problem!
You could argue that Python is a good choice because it lets you do things quickly. But I'd argue that Processing lets you do things even faster. That games programming book? So far I'm more than halfway through and nothing has moved beyond text-based games. But in Processing, your first program is almost certainly going to be entirely visual. I love that with very little code you can get up and running in Processing right away and have something feels like an accomplishment.
Furthermore, I think that the syntax of Processing is more straightforward in many ways. You can do a lot with some basic math, one or two types of loops, and standard method calls. You can add literally one line of code to your project and get a visual result right away (as seen in this beginner's tutorial). Yes, you will need to implement a method or two to really get going (setup and draw), but these actually make sense in a logical way, more so than the main of many languages.
It's true that Processing isn't interpreted like Python is, potentially introducing some issues with compiling. But the compile and run process is abstracted quite nicely with the play button, so it's not all bad. You can get errors in either type of language, of course.
I admit that I may be biased at this point since I'm not a Python expert yet, potentially making the comparison unfair. On the other hand, now is really the best time for me to analyze Python fairly given that I don't know it well at all, just like other beginners. Either way, I'll have a chance to learn more about how well Python works as a beginner's language as we work on our book on CS for beginners, since that's the language we've decided to include. | <urn:uuid:d6534fff-eaad-4d06-a235-d514c16eb5d9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://compscigail.blogspot.com/2012/05/python-vs-processing-as-first-language.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970389 | 727 | 2.21875 | 2 |
As temperatures across the country escalate, U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials reiterated their “Water. Rest. Shade.” mantra for outdoor workers, employing an array of awareness initiatives.
The agency emphasized its three-point message for those working outside during hot weather.
- Water: You need plenty of water throughout the day—every 15 minutes. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty,
- Rest: Rest breaks help your body recover.
- Shade: Resting in the shade or in air conditioning helps you cool down.
OSHA Talks to Weather Professionals
OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels recently spoke with 80 meteorologists and weather broadcasters about the agency’s national outreach initiative to educate workers and their employers about the hazards of working outdoors in hot weather, the department announced.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and Micheals also met with Steven Cooper, acting deputy director of the National Weather Service, to discuss the populations most at risk, the importance of acclimatization, and the value of using the “buddy system” to look out for heat-illness warning signs in coworkers.
Bilingual Billboards across Four States
In addition, OSHA announced plans to post more than 100 “Water. Rest. Shade.” billboards across four states to educate employers and workers.
OSHA said the billboards will appear in Arkansas, Florida, Texas and Illinois—the four states with the highest number of occupational heat-related fatalities in 2010.
The billboards direct viewers, in both English and Spanish, to visit OSHA’s heat-illness website for educational materials, a smart-phone application, workplace training, and other information on how to prevent heat illness and what to do in case of an emergency, OSHA said.
The billboards will be used through August, the agency said.
OSHA said its offices around the country are also responding to the summer heat with resources, information and outreach, including radio interviews and new wallet cards.
The cards, which are small enough for workers and employers to carry in their wallets, list some heat-illness symptoms to watch out for, as well as a QR code that workers and employers can scan with any smart phone to access OSHA’s Heat page and online resources.
Smart-phone users with a camera phone can download a free QR reader from their app store and scan the image to open a website in their phone’s browser, OSHA said.
OSHA also said iPhone and Android users can download the OSHA Heat App, which just reached the benchmark of more than 25,000 downloads.
More information: OSHA Heat Illness Awareness Campaign. | <urn:uuid:4a4bb379-15ca-4405-bcc6-6566985cadc0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.durabilityanddesign.com/news/?fuseaction=view&id=7984 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936941 | 570 | 2.140625 | 2 |
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It is important to scan all vehicle seat positions once you find a heat signature on an empty seat inside a vehicle. Do not be distracted by discovering your first warm seat and stopping your TIC scanning. Remember that additional occupants may have been in the vehicle and need to be accounted for as well. At the scene, the TIC can also be valuable to scan the area immediately surrounding the crash scene. In a rural setting, for example, the TIC may be able to see the heat signature of a patient in a field of high grass or a thick wooded area where they normally may be hidden from sight otherwise.
Using member’s vehicles, conduct training with the department’s TIC to determine its sensitivity to heat differences on various vehicle seats. Have a member sit in a seat for a given period of time and then use the TIC to observe the seat once your member gets off the seat. Experiment with cloth-covered seats compared to vinyl or leather seat upholstery.
Try this drill in daylight with the sun shining on the seat cushion to determine the approximate life expectancy of the heat signature once the occupant exits and the seat is in direct sunlight. During cool nights, there is a longer timeframe in which you have to work with the TIC and still get reliable results. Warm weather and direct sunlight can seriously shorten your effective time. Experiment and find out for yourself. n
TASK: The rescue team shall conduct a skills practice session using a thermal imaging camera to observe the heat signature of a vehicle seat under various conditions.
Ron Moore, a Firehouse® contributing editor, retired as training chief for the McKinney, TX, Fire Department. He also authors a monthly online article in the Firehouse.com “MembersZone” and serves as the Forum Moderator for the extrication section of the Firehouse.com website. Moore can be contacted directly at Rmoore@firehouse.com. | <urn:uuid:831411fe-317d-4fd9-8781-73564ad4133a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.firehouse.com/article/10739151/university-of-extrication-thermal-imager-camera-use-for-patient-accountability?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936764 | 438 | 1.726563 | 2 |
France! Jamaica! Honduras! USA! (to name a few) are some of the countries that were represented in Library Street School and Dr. H.O. Smith School's first Winter Olympics Carnival. The day started off with a torch run, presentation of country and flag (20 of them), lighting of the Olympic torch (with a confetti cannon mixed in), and student presenters of Olympic history. After the opening ceremony, students participated in several 'events' throughout the day, including the luge, bobsled, human curl, etc. Laughter and excitement were contagious from the beginning of the day to the end.
We would like to thank Mr. Reardon and Mr. Larry for coordinating this fun-filled day. | <urn:uuid:5161e0a4-ec11-4bf3-8182-e33427977cf7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dhos.sau81.org/content/winter-olympics | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964725 | 150 | 2.015625 | 2 |
Two weeks ago Taiwan's legislature passed a bill allowing Taiwanese to import U.S. beef containing minimal traces of ractopamine, a feed additive for creating lean meat.
The ban was the main obstruction to resumption of talks on the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement that were suspended in 2007.
Taiwan hopes talks could pave the way for a free trade pact with Washington, although such a step could anger China, which regards self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis said Wednesday that lifting the beef ban was positive.
"We will have to see how things play out in the next few months before making any decision" on the trade and investment agreement, he told a seminar on U.S. trade policy in the Asia-Pacific.
Taiwan's parliament and farmers had opposed lifting the ban.
Newly re-elected President Ma Ying-jeou, whose inking of a trade pact with Beijing in 2010 helped calm decades of tension across the Taiwan Strait, is also seeking to strengthen ties with the U.S.
Ma has said Taiwan eventually wants to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade pact that the U.S. is negotiating with eight other nations. The Obama administration views the pact as the central component
Marantis dismissed suggestions that the pact is intended to exclude China. He said any country in the region would be welcome to join if they could meet its standards.
"The same applies to Taiwan," Marantis said. "It's for Taiwan to be able to convince both the U.S. and the other partners that Taiwan is a reliable trading partner and is able to meet the high standards."
The U.S. in November 2009 joined the negotiations on the pact that also include Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. It aims to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers.
Mexico and Canada are set to join the negotiations later this year, and Japan has expressed interest in future participation. | <urn:uuid:a921b336-6979-43e9-ab1a-29a8795d1ba7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_21265508/us-welcomes-lifting-taiwan-beef-ban | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96908 | 419 | 1.625 | 2 |
Air pollution is in the news again this week with Neasden Neighbourhood Watch calling for action after Neasden hit the 32 air pollution 'Bad Days' a year threshold.
The Green Party's 8 points on air pollution are:
1. We will make sure that air pollution is monitored in the right places, and publicise bad results widely, particularly to vulnerable people such as children and the elderly as part of a campaign to improve the public's understanding of the problem.
2. We will require all schools, retirement homes and care homes to develop air quality action plans that lower pollution in their local area and protect children and residents during bad air episodes.
3. We will tighten up the Low Emission Zone standards and make sure they are properly enforced through vehicle checks, with a new ban on idling for parked vehicles. Introduce a Very Low Emission Zone in central London to exclude all but the cleanest vehicles.
4. We will retrofit all buses immediately if the technology is shown to work, and make sure that all new buses are low emission hybrid, hydrogen or electric models within one year of being elected, and that the entire fleet runs on this technology by 2016.
5. We will introduce a pay-as-you-drive scheme, to encourage people out of their cars, and provide the necessary investment in London's public transport infrastructure.
6. We will buy a fleet of low emission taxis for drivers to rent if they can't afford to buy one, and set-up a clean vehicle fund with low cost loans for small and medium sized businesses to replace dirty vehicles with electric equivalents, offering them a discount on pay-as- you-go driving charges so it is cost neutral.
7. We will work with the Government and Network Rail to reduce emissions from trains and planes. Push for the closure of City Airport, and convert it into the first Community Enterprise Zone. We will lobby to ban night flights over London.
8. We will ensure all planning applications are air quality neutral, and require new developments to reduce air pollution in the most heavily polluted areas. | <urn:uuid:ba6fd7dd-9540-4922-865d-0409d0f40735> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2012/04/greens-policy-on-air-pollution-menace.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937563 | 427 | 1.890625 | 2 |
Today's Fiscal News
"The supply-side tax cuts of 2003 are working exactly as we would have expected," said Daniel Mitchell, a budget specialist at the Heritage Foundation. "Lower taxes on work, saving and investment leads to more work, saving and investment."...Note that, logically, Mitchell and Greenstein could both be correct. One can simultaneously believe (1) that tax cuts encourage work, saving, and investment, and (2) that because of our progressive tax system, increasing income disparities help bring in tax revenue.
"This all relates to the widening income disparities between high-income individuals and the rest of the population," said Robert Greenstein, executive director of the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Indeed, the two points may be complementary. Gruber and Saez tell us that high-income people are more responsive to changes in tax rates. If they are right, then the supply-side effects that Mitchell applauds may be one of the causes of the income disparities that Greenstein deplores.
Meanwhile, we should not lose sight of the longer-term fiscal challenge:
These are facts that all economists, right and left, should be able to agree on.
"Even if somehow we balanced the budget by, say, 2010, we would look forward to an enormous fiscal problem," said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former CBO director and Bush White House economist.
"The projections are that the Social Security surplus will peak in 2010, and diminish every year thereafter, so ultimately, instead of collecting 5 cents on the national dollar and paying out 4 1/2 cents, we will continue to collect 5 cents and pay out 7 cents," Holtz-Eakin said. "And that's the good news. The bad news is Medicare. The demands on the Treasury go from 4 cents on the national dollar to 22 cents in the next 50 years." | <urn:uuid:472b5a0b-11d1-4a78-971a-3f8e225e5364> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/07/todays-fiscal-news.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948935 | 385 | 1.75 | 2 |
(UK): An Indian-origin Muslim councilor Abdul Razak
Osman has been sworn in as the first ever Muslim mayor in the
multi-cultural town of Leicester, the post seen as a challenge as
Britain prepares for the Olympic Games.
“It’s an important year, with the Diamond Jubilee and the
Olympics, so it’s a privilege for me to hold office with
everything that’s going on,” Councilor Osman said at the swearing
in ceremony, The Indian Express reported on Friday, May 18.
“I want to focus on visiting the communities and raising the
profile of the office of Lord Mayor,” he added.
Osman was born in Kenya and arrived in the UK in 1971.
Joining the city council in 1996, he takes over from Councilor Rob
Leicester previously had Hindu and Sikh Lord Mayors, but Osman is
the first Muslim to hold the high office.
“I’m proud to be the first Muslim councilor to hold the position –
we’ve had Christian, Hindu, Sikh and now I’m able to bring the
Islamic faith to the office which is a great honor,” Osman added.
The term of Leicester’s Lord Mayor is one year, and runs from May
Though being the first Muslim to fill Leicester’s mayoral post,
Osman is not the first British Muslim to serve in a high-profile
In May 2011, Councilor Naveeda Ikram was named as the lord mayor
of the district of Bradford, the first Muslim woman to hold this
Earlier in November 2010, Lutfur Rahman was elected as the mayor
of the East London borough of Tower Hamlets, the first Muslim
mayor in Britain.
In 2007, Muslim Labour MP Shahid Malik became the first British
Muslim minister after he was named as a minister under Secretary
of State for the Department for International Development (DFID).
Malik has also served as Justice Minister, Home Office Minister
and most recently as Minister for Race, Faith and Community
Another Muslim MP, Sadiq Khan, was also appointed in 2007 as a
government assistant responsible for parliamentary affairs.
In the 2010 parliamentary elections, eight Muslims were elected as
MPs in the House of Commons.
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a British-born of Pakistani origin, is the
first Muslim woman to serve in the British Cabinet as minister
Britain is home to a sizable Muslim minority of nearly 2 million.
The majority of the multi-ethnic minority has Indian, Bengali and | <urn:uuid:261b21e3-04db-4dd2-8d37-d19733064bae> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ummid.com/news/2012/May/19.05.2012/leicester_gets_muslim_mayor.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958868 | 550 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Being a caregiver is a very special role with its own health challenges for the person providing care. We offer tips and strategies so that you can do this important job while protecting your health and well being.
In addition to great patience and dedication, being a caregiver takes physical skill. If you are a family caregiver, you were probably never trained to do tasks such as lifting someone from a wheelchair into a car, dressing and bathing someone, or positioning someone in a bed. All of these tasks are physically demanding. They require you to bend, lean, and use muscles you may not be used to using.
To avoid back injury, strained muscles, and other problems, you must perform physical tasks in the correct fashion, using the proper technique. It is important to have a trained professional such as a physical or occupational therapist teach you how to perform these tasks safely.
Also, it is your responsibility to keep the house physically safe for you and your loved one, to prevent slips, bumps, and accidents that can happen when people are infirm or elderly.
At times, you may have to transfer your loved one from a bed to a chair or from a wheelchair into a car or from a toilet seat to a standing/walking position.
The following steps are general guidelines to protect your back when you must perform any type of lift or transfer:
If you have any doubt at all about your ability to perform a lift on your own, get help.
When moving a heavy object, it is better to push or to pull than to lift, whenever possible.
If your loved one cannot move independently in bed, you may need to reposition them periodically to prevent bed sores from forming and to help them feel comfortable.
To move a person from their back to a side lying position, stand by the side of the bed and take hold of the draw sheet on the opposite side from where you are standing. (A draw sheet is a flat sheet, usually folded in half, placed on top of the linens so that someone is lying on top of the draw sheet.) Pull on the sheet to gently roll your loved one onto their side. Hold them in position with one hand and place a pillow behind their back with your other hand. For comfort, place a pillow between their knees. You might also put a pillow beneath their upper arm and place a call button or a bell within their reach.
To move someone back into a lying position, perform this process in reverse.
Have a nurse or other professional show you how to perform bed positioning at first.
Manual lifting and transferring, even if done properly, are physically taxing over time. Therefore, assistive devices are highly recommended for the safety of both you and your loved one. These devices include:
Talk to your health care providers about assistive devices. Have a physical therapist or other qualified person show you how to use them properly.
Simple precautions can keep the home environment safe for your loved one and for you. Practical home safety measures include:
Depending on your loved one's disability, mental faculties, and level of independence, it may also be helpful to:
One of the main causes of injury in people age 65 and older is falls. People with certain illnesses like osteoporosis or people who have had a stroke are more at risk for falls. You can help your loved one avoid falls, and avoid them yourself, by taking the following safety measures:
If you have an emergency medical condition, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. An emergency medical condition is any of the following: (1) a medical condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or body functions or organs; (2) active labor when there isn't enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your (or your unborn child's) health and safety, or (3) a mental disorder that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that either you are an immediate danger to yourself or others, or you are not immediately able to provide for, or use, food, shelter, or clothing, due to the mental disorder.
This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of specific medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other health care professional. If you have persistent health problems, or if you have additional questions, please consult with your doctor. If you have questions or need more information about your medication, please speak to your pharmacist. Kaiser Permanente does not endorse the medications or products mentioned. Any trade names listed are for easy identification only. | <urn:uuid:946d8acd-925d-4c2a-a334-eecc16d092b9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/mdo/presentation/stayinghealthy/topic.jsp?condition=Health_Topic_Caregiver_-_Preventing_Injury_Caring_Others_-_Staying_Healthy.xml&crumb=177874&pageTitle=Caregivers%7CHealthy+Heart+%7CStaying+Healthy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96019 | 1,043 | 2.125 | 2 |
CoBlitz poised to capture untapped market as online video burgeons
When Donna Liu established the Woodrow Wilson School's University Channel -- a downloadable feed of lectures by distinguished speakers -- it became so popular that it quickly was using its maximum bandwidth.
So when she learned about a research project at Princeton called CoBlitz, which can handle the distribution of rich online content like video without overloading University servers, "it was a real life-saver."
As a research project, CoBlitz has been powering not only the University Channel but also the Mozart Museum's website, which allows users to download the composer's orchestral arrangements, as well as Fedora Core Linux software releases.
Now CoBlitz is about to go commercial. Vivek Pai, one of CoBlitz’s founders, was one of a nearly a dozen entrepreneurially minded researchers who recently pitched their pioneering ideas at an innovation forum sponsored by Princeton’s Center for Innovation in Engineering Education.
The CoBlitz team brings formidable expertise to the content-distribution table. Pai, an assistant professor of computer science at Princeton, was a co-founder of iMimic Networking, for which he helped design the fastest Web proxy server in the world. Larry Peterson, chair of Princeton's computer science department, is the director of PlanetLab, a networked global testbed of computers, as well as chair of the planning group for GENI, a National Science Foundation-backed research initiative whose mission is to make the Internet more trustworthy. KyoungSoo Park just finished his dissertation at Princeton focusing largely on CoBlitz. And Marc Fiuczynski and Patrick Richardson are research computer scientists who work closely with Peterson on PlanetLab.
CoBlitz fills a different niche than Akamai, one of the giants in the world of content distribution which has as customers companies like Apple and IBM and which was co-founded by Princeton engineering graduate Tom Leighton.
According to Akamai’s financial statements, customers pay between $12,000 and $24,000 a month to Akamai for server capacity. CoBlitz is designed for customers who need to accommodate hard-to-predict bandwidth spikes but don't want, or can't afford, to pay for a huge amount of bandwidth.
"We're really looking at a new market of consumers who would never go to Akamai," said Fiuczynski. Peterson calls CoBlitz "bandwidth insurance."
Like BitTorrent, a popular peer-to-peer file sharing program, CoBlitz works by splitting files into pieces and sharing them across a network of machines. But CoBlitz is different in that its logic is implemented on the network itself, meaning that CoBlitz can operate seamlessly with a Web server or browser without requiring any special software modifications or installations.
Because of this, Pai said, CoBlitz is incredibly easy to use. "It's a five-minute, do-it-yourself operation," he said.
Pai contends that CoBlitz is poised to capture a large, as-yet untapped market just as the appetite for online video is ballooning. Liu suspects that he may well be right.
"There is an explosion of online video and a lot of institutions don't recognize what it is going to do to their bandwidth," said Liu. "They are going to need solutions like CoBlitz." | <urn:uuid:b87ced94-6c63-434e-bb9b-b4f1ae252dad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.princeton.edu/engineering/news/publications/equad-news/s07/articles/news.xml?id=542 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959646 | 698 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Our hedgerows need to be shown some love, they’re critical to preserving the beautiful butterflies of Britain, including some of our rarest species. That’s why we’ve joined forces with a wonderful organisation called Butterfly Conservation.
With David Attenborough as their president, they’re one of the largest insect conservation societies in the world and do great work in protecting butterflies and our environment. Together, we’re raising awareness of how important hedgerows are to the survival of these lovely fluttery creatures, as well as the rest of Britain’s wildlife.
Like us, butterflies love hedgerows. In fact, the same kind of hedgerow that provides us with the ingredients to make our lovely elderflower cordial is also an essential butterfly home. Elders produce gorgeous flowers in summer, followed by juicy purple-black berries in autumn, and we use both in our drinks. | <urn:uuid:76963d5d-1e73-4a15-9f6f-657d5007cfbd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk/win-things/our-beautiful-hedgerow-photo-competition/butterfly-conservation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91466 | 191 | 2.140625 | 2 |
What: METRO Transit Center open house, 631 S. Broadway, Akron.
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 10
Rides: A free loop bus will run from downtown on Main Street or people can drive to the center.
Opens: Jan. 18
Routes: On Jan. 18 all METRO bus routes will have changes. To learn more about the routes or the center go to Akronmetro.org or call 330-762-0341.
Lining the roof are 432 solar panels, the largest single array in Ohio, which will provide about 33 percent of the facility's annual needs. A geothermal heating and cooling system includes 45 wells drilled 305 feet into the earth.
"We want to be a leader in alternative transit and alternative energy," said Kirt Conrad, director of planning and development for METRO RTA. "This 'green' building developed as we were going along."
Forty-six of the transit authority's 136 buses run on compressed natural gas.
The new center, on South Broadway, opens Jan. 18. It replaces a downtown transfer area on South Main Street, an outdoor site that is controlled chaos as people try to find their buses or have to dash across four lanes to catch another bus. There are no public restrooms or indoor waiting areas, said Molly Becker, spokeswoman for the agency.
Each day about 4,000 of METRO's 22,000 daily bus riders need to transfer buses, Conrad said. Roughly 32 bays at the new center will be used for bus routes. Electronic signs will announce departure times.
The city's Greyhound bus station will move to the center and use four bays. The company will pay $40,000 a year. About 600 people take one of Greyhound's 18 daily trips, Becker said.
METRO had sought land and worked on plans for a center for 10 years. The city donated 8.3 acres worth $2.3 million at a former Conrail railroad yard. The Federal Transportation Administration provided $12 million, the Ohio Department of Transportation allocated $2 million and the remaining $1.7 million came from METRO and other local matches.
Besides installing the solar panels and geothermal system, officials made sure the project included other "green" features. For instance, rainwater will be stored to use in restrooms and landscaping. And about 75 percent of the construction waste was recycled.
Conrad said officials wanted to be environmentally friendly, but not at too high a price or with untested products. While the geothermal system is expected to break even on cost, compared to natural gas, it will take about 10 years to recover the cost of the $1.1-million solar panel system, he said.
The solar project was the biggest one to date for Third Sun Solar and Wind Power in Athens, said owner Geoff Greenfield.
Each 108-pound panel has 310-watt modules, he said. The total array is 133.9 kilowatts. The average house with solar panels has a 6 kilowatt array, he said.
People will be able to monitor the solar system's performance online through METRO, Becker said. In fact, since the facility has free Wi-Fi, they can use their laptops while waiting for the bus. The center also has a meeting room that any organization can use and public art space. METRO hopes to lease 1,100 square feet for a caf /gift shop.
One thing the center does not have is parking spaces.
"We are not a park and ride," Becker said. "We will not even allow employees to park here - they have to take the bus." | <urn:uuid:83232134-00c8-47b9-a9c0-7e922e3be4cd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/12/solar_panels_make_akrons_new_t.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942381 | 757 | 1.515625 | 2 |
image credit: achooallergy.com
Greetings for the new year. If one of your resolutions for 2013 is to lead a healthier lifestyle, we have some great ideas here for greening up your home.
The average person probably doesn't have time to research all that goes into traditional cleaning and home care products. So we've done the research for you. A couple of years ago I was invited to make a presentation to a group of Extension staff in Wichita and share ideas for how to live in a healthier home. I thought I knew a fair amount about the topic; when I started digging as I prepared my PowerPoint presentation for the audience I was dumbfounded by what I uncovered.
I knew, generally, that there are health concerns associated with many of the traditional cleaning products on the market. That research has found that conditions such as asthma, allergies, and immune illnesses are associated with exposure to certain chemicals found in everyday off-the-shelf household products. However, what I didn't know was staggering. Did you know that the average American house is home to 60 hazardous products? That indoor air quality in a typical home is 2-5 times more toxic than outdoor air? That nearly 80% of the chemicals used in the home haven't even been tested for safety? And that companies are not even required to list the ingredients in the products they sell? These statistics (are there are MANY more where these came from) are not meant to scare you, but rather to inform you and invite you to consider healthier alternatives for yourself and your family. Knowledge is power.
Fortunately, there are a LOT of non-toxic options that are quite effective at cleaning and deodorizing your home. Here is a small sampling of ideas and suggestions for some products that we have used with great results. An added benefit is that most of these approaches will save you money as well as improve your indoor air quality.
Ten ways you can use lemon juice instead of toxic chemicals from the website The Nourished Life is a very straightforward, easy-to-follow guide.
I highly recommend the book Clean: The Humble Art of Zen Cleansing. It is chock full of recipes using only these natural ingredients: baking soda, borax, lemon, salt, and white vinegar. (In 2010 author Michael DeJong and partner Richard Haymes gifted the community of Greensburg with 600 copies of this guide. It was a big hit! They later journeyed from New Jersey to Kansas to demonstrate multiple recipes from the book and offer a couple of educational sessions on the concerns associated with traditional cleaning products.)
E-cloths are a remarkable invention and will do away with the need for purchasing paper towels and most household cleaners. The cloths were originally designed for use in Swedish hospitals that aimed to lower patients' exposure to toxic cleaning products. My personal favorite - so far - is the cloth that is used for cleaning glass. (The E-cloth company also generously donated product for the folks of Greensburg after the 2007 tornado.)
Commercial air "fresheners" are a personal pet peeve. The list of toxic ingredients they spew into the air is lengthy and rather frightening. Here's an easy recipe for homemade air freshener from the website Thank Your Body.
Here are some recommended brands of household and personal care products, in case you're not quite ready to make your own.
If you'd like to experiment with homemade products, here are a couple of easy recipes to get you started, from Michael DeJong’s book, Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing:
Bath & kitchen cleanser - “Mix one-quarter cup borax and one-quarter cup baking soda to make the best bath cleaner and kitchen cleaner ever. Add some salt as an abrasive if necessary.”
Baking soda cleanser for your car - "Add a quarter of a cup to a bucket of water to remove bugs and tree sap from the chrome, windshield glass, mud flaps, auto roof rack and auto-body paint on your car. It’s really effective as a scrub, too. Just apply a bit onto a rag or sponge to get the really nasty stuff up. Rinse with clean water. Try it on the vinyl seats inside, too.”
If you are just starting to wean yourself off traditional household products, be gentle with making changes. It can be challenging to let go of trusted name-brands and use "alternatives" - even though "alternatives" are older than the hills, when you're talking lemons, vinegar and salt! I must confess to having been "addicted" to Comet cleanser in my youth. When I read that chlorine gas was used as a weapon during World War I - well, let's just say that cleaning with chlorine bleach no longer appealed to me. | <urn:uuid:ea7fe49c-65b1-4fd8-8799-10529782d2e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eldoradotimes.com/article/20130104/BLOGS/301049999/0/blogs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966044 | 999 | 2.0625 | 2 |
Ethanol industry groups are close to clearing the final hurdle to make E15 available after three years of work. According to the National Corn Growers Association, 99 ethanol producers have banded together to fund a nationwide fuel survey which will satisfy the final requirement of the partial E15 waiver by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In the statement, Garry Niemeyer, president, says the group "applauds the ethanol industry for this momentous accomplishment. We have long understood the economic, environmental and national security benefits of this renewable, domestic fuel. Finally, the hard work invested in pushing to increase these benefits through increased ethanol usage can come to fruition."
The ethanol producers stepped up to support the survey even though only a handful of the 160,000 gas stations that will participate are owned by the group.
"Ethanol producers have taken on a proactive role in this process and American consumers will benefit," says Niemeyer. "Ethanol has the capacity to lower staggering prices at the pump while also reducing pollution. With the survey in place, E15 is set for commercial sale as laid out by the EPA."
Groups representing the ethanol industry, including the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol also spoke out in defense of E15 and to applaud progress today.
"America's ethanol industry is committed to giving consumers greater choice at the pump by making E15 a commercial reality," said RFA, Growth Energy, and ACE. "We will work diligently with the petroleum industry, gas retailers, automakers, and consumers to ensure E15 is used properly. But we will not stand idly by and allow some of these interests to make wild and unsubstantiated claims about ethanol and E15 in order to malign ethanol and scare consumers. The fact remains that E15 is the most tested fuel ever approved by EPA and is perfectly safe and effective for those engines approved in the waiver."
Whether the auto industry is ready or not will depend on a lot of factors, but there are some interesting early indicators. | <urn:uuid:35344eb6-e2bd-4490-910b-bf024809a7e1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://farmprogress.com/story-news-e15-front-0-59284 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951119 | 423 | 1.578125 | 2 |
When landed property owner Lawrence Tan wanted to pay his public waste collector for an additional bin so that he could sort his recycled items and place them separately, the company refused. So, Mr Tan went ahead and bought a bin.
He need not have bothered.
Singapore is adopting a new recycling approach - co-mingling - and it is more efficient, public waste collectors and industry sources told The New Paper.
All the material is collected together and then sorted later. | <urn:uuid:637be880-6885-4acc-8c60-41a6d4b5ac64> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tnp.sg/content/dont-bother-sort-your-recycled-items?page=0%2C3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971953 | 96 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Local governments want Pagasa to set climate early warning system for agriculture
By Jennifer A. Ng
05 March 2012, 7:53 PM
LOCAL governments in Tarlac, Sorsogon and Bohol will work with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to pioneer climate information and forecasting for agriculture.
Mayors of the towns of Gerona in Tarlac, Irosin in Sorsogon and Tubigon in Bohol, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pagasa on Monday to provide continuous mentoring and capacity building in setting up their own local Automatic Weather Station (AWS) or Early Warning System (EWS). These are necessary infrastructure for the community-based EWS for agriculture or the Climate Field School.
Farmers from the three towns are expected to get sufficient warning on extreme conditions and be able to build defenses against the possible destruction of lives and properties.
Rice Watch and Action Network (R1) said in a statement that it has been working with the three towns on its project, Integrating Climate Risks Management into Local Agriculture Development Planning, since 2009.
“We are proud to declare that the project produced local development plans in agriculture that are premised on climate-change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The local chief executives put pesos and centavos in these plans and were included in the annual investment plan of each of the municipality leading to this MOU signing with Pagasa,” said Jessica Reyes-Cantos, R1 lead convener.
Under the MOU, Pagasa’s Climatology and Agro-meteorology Division will provide appropriate climate data to these municipalities; provide technical assistance in the operation of the local weather instruments; assist in analysis of climate and weather data for use in the Climate Field School of the municipality.
Pagasa will also assist in the establishment of an agro-meteorological station in the municipality; assist in the installation, maintenance and calibration of weather instruments upon the establishment of the agro-meteorological station; and assist in personnel skills and methodological practice enhancement programs in the operation of the agro-meteorological station.
The local government, meanwhile, is committed to set up an agro-meteorological station compliant with the World Meteorological standards within the next three years; provide resources for the maintenance of instruments, building, observation ground and personnel salaries that will be trained and assigned at the agro-meteorological station through the supervision and management of the Municipal Agriculturist.
Local governments should also support the staff of Pagasa who will be providing on site skills training and assistance to the agro-meteorological staff in the future; support initiatives for agro-meteorological technical personnel skills development and methodological practice enhancement programs of Pagasa; sustain the Climate Field School program for the agriculture sector to optimize production and mitigate impacts of weather/climate-related phenomena; and institutionalize the expansion of use of weather/climate information in other services.
|Rice Watch and Action Network| | <urn:uuid:b8ab4bbf-af53-4e8a-960b-b1c3d3844028> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.r1phils.org/R1News/2012a/6R1News6Mar2012.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916745 | 634 | 1.617188 | 2 |
This concept of lowering standards is especially true of how the WTO has ruled on trade matters related to the environment. The articles within the WTO related to the environment are nothing more than window dressing, since excuses have constantly been made to not rule according to the provisions. The cases below illustrate how the GATT/WTO's rhetoric falls vastly short of the environmental reality of its decisions:
* Tuna-dolphin - This case heard before the GATT/WTO dealt with US restrictions on countries that are not using methods that protect dolphins from drowning in tuna nets (i.e., tuna caught in purse-seine nets that resulted in the deaths of dolphins). The dispute panel claimed that GATT did not permit production-based trade restrictions, and then, in a further twist on common sense, claimed that the restriction was aimed at forcing countries to change their policies, rather than at promoting marine conservation.
* Clean Air Act - This GATT/WTO case dealt with US legislation concerning taxes and restrictions on the import of refined gasoline. Again, a decision resulted that was detrimental to environmental protection. The GATT panel criticized the US for failing to take into account the costs the Clean Air Act would place on foreign oil producers and for failing to pursue cooperative agreements with countries affected. The concept of the economic costs of global warming and air pollution seemed irrelevant to the decision.
* Canada fish processing This dispute centered on a Canadian restriction on the import of unprocessed salmon and herring. Canada argued that the restriction was related to the country's efforts to prevent over-fishing by ensuring Canadian fishermen did not lose the value of their more limited catch. In response, the GATT claimed the processing requirement was not "necessary" to protect fish stocks, and that its primary purpose was to protect the domestic fishing industry, not to promote conservation.
In all of these cases, environmental concerns become invisible; and every issue is viewed through economic considerations. Decisions are, in part, based on the panels' interpretations of the aim of the restriction. Obviously, there is an element of trade restriction to the environmental trade measures. But these measures were developed in response to environmental issues rather than economic issues. Economic factors were included as motivators for the ultimate goal of environmental protection.
Within these decisions lies the inherent flaw within the WTO concerning its apparent view of environmental issues. The WTO fails to represent a world view in matters related to environmental protection. The WTO through these rulings has sought to undermine and destroy domestic environmental laws that have international reach.
The flaws of the WTO are not limited to the way in which it has dealt with environmental issues. Within the WTO, there are numerous serious flaws: its suppression of democratic process, its prevention of public participation, and its threat to health and safety standards. | <urn:uuid:1ee89c53-7f13-422c-968d-9e233a557c2f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://seaturtles.org/article.php?id=69 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968586 | 562 | 2.59375 | 3 |
MYSORE: Students of 34 institutions clad in green t-shirts were all excited to receive the certificates here on Sunday after completing a 25-week youth club programme organized by Mysore Zoo in 2011.
Certificates were awarded for 61 students, including 32 boys and 29 girls who have participated in programme. In the past 19 years, more than 1,000 students have completed this programme. Mysore Zoo executive director B P Ravi said the aim of youth club is to develop leadership qualities among youths to spread the message of wildlife protection and environmental conservation on successive Sundays. Participants were exposed to classroom lectures and were taken to wildlife areas during the course of programme.
Chandrika, a Class X student told TOI that she learnt discipline and team work from the youth club. "Nurturing nature is the future plans for my life," she added. The programme has also inspired another student Ullas as he wants to impart knowledge about conservation of environmental issues among people. He said the program opened up his mind to start working for conservation of forests. "The course also helped me academically after listening to lectures by experts on topics like biodiversity, climatic changes, road ecology, identification of bird through calls and some other environmental topics," said Ullas.
This educative programme has changed the attitude of Sankya Krishnan, a participant. She said, "Earlier I use to tease animals but after attending this course I have stopped it." Sharing her experience of the course she said: "It was a mind-blowing experience during the trek to Chamundi Hill and field trips to Ranganthitu, Kokkre Bellur, Bandipur and Nagarhole gave us a chance to know about wildlife management." During the programme, participants rendered a poem, composed by them and the dignitaries released the zoo newsletter and annual report of zoo 2010-11. | <urn:uuid:728dd5f0-aaf7-416e-a053-be2f87276f26> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-09/mysore/30606758_1_youth-club-mysore-zoo-programme | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974902 | 385 | 2.078125 | 2 |
Tiki Goddess Pele - 16" Muse De L' Homme - Hawaii Heritage
Our Price: $139.90
Your Savings: $89.10
Item #: BLA602340
Here is a beautiful tiki figure measuring 16 inches, made out of solid Acacia Koa wood. Called PELE, collected in Hawaii prior to 1879.
ORIGINAL: Musee de l'Homme, PARIS
This is a beautiful piece of art! These Tiki was carved with great attention to details.
Madam Pele, Queen of Fire
She was the daughter of the Earth Goddess Haumea and dwells in the Kilauea volcano. This wild and fiery goddess is widely venerated in Hawaii and other parts of Polynesia. When eruptions threaten towns it is thought that Pele is angry. Her volcanoes are both destroyers and creators of the earth, since her flowing lava makes new land. Pele's husband, the Pig God Kamapua'a, is the inventor of agriculture. Notice the spouting "lava crest" of her comb headdress.
[adapted from a 19th cent. carved wood image, Museum of Man, Paris] | <urn:uuid:f0439d13-f9d4-4d12-8b0c-d5dd893d5f6a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tikimaster.com/product/BLA602340/Museum-Tiki---Hand-Carved-Tiki---Acacia-Koa-Wood---Tiki-Decor.html?fl=p%2dprint_me&wrapper=plain | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.911965 | 251 | 2.09375 | 2 |
Cat owners can have a lot of questions: "Should I get a second cat as a playmate?" "How can I stop my cat from scratching
the furniture?" "Why doesn't he use the litter box?" So in the spirit of David Letterman, I compiled this top 10 list of cat
behavior tips. I hope that sharing these tips with your clients will help educate them about their feline friends and strengthen
the bond between them and their cats.
Jacqueline C. Neilson, DVM, DACVB
10. MYTH BUSTED: CATS HAVE SOCIAL LIVES
A persistent misconception about domestic cats is that they are not social. Terms such as independent and self-sufficient have been used to describe cats. This characterization was probably based on observations that most felid species do not
form classically recognizable, permanent social groups. However, data collected over the last 20 years indicate that domestic
cats are indeed social and are flexible in their sociability.1
Concentrated food sources bring free-ranging cats together. Historically these groupings have been characterized as simple
aggregations; however, research has elucidated nonrandom social interactions and structure within these groups. This information
is helpful in defining feline social organization as well as in rebuking the myth that domestic cats are asocial.
Perhaps the most striking and influential feline social structure is that between female domestic cats. In free-ranging domestic
cats, a matriarchal society exists, with adult females forming lineages of related females and their offspring. A large group
of cats (colony) may support several female lineages, with the largest lineages securing the best of the available resources.
Within a lineage, there are usually amicable interactions among members, in contrast to the hostile interactions that are
often seen toward outsider cats. Female cats within a lineage spend more time in close proximity to each other than to nonlineage
members. Communal kitten care is noted within a lineage, and parental care of offspring is rare. Although lineages are fairly
stable, they can change in composition. For example, lineages often split after the death of a matriarch.
Kittens automatically become integrated into the female lineage. Kittens and juveniles often prefer affiliations with their
littermates as opposed to kittens of a different age group or more distantly related members. Cats may disperse from the natal
band as they mature, usually between 1 or 2 years of age. Observational data of a stable neutered cat colony showed that related
adult cats exhibited more affiliative behaviors toward each other than toward unrelated cats. In our households, this information
may indicate that getting two littermates would increase the chances of social bonding, but this has yet to be objectively
9. MORE ISN'T NECESSARILY BETTER
Although cats are no longer erroneously labeled as asocial,2 having multiple cats can increase problem behaviors. There is not only a purely mathematical probability that the likelihood
of a problem behavior increases with an increased number of cats, but the social dynamics of feline-to-feline relationships
can create problem behaviors. For example, social tension or aggression between cats may lead to fighting or elimination or
marking problems. How many cats are too many? The answer depends on the cats' temperaments, their relatedness, and the space
and resources available.
Intercat sociability is probably a function of both genetics and experience. Related cats within a group show more affiliative
behaviors such as allogrooming and allorubbing than do unrelated cats,3 perhaps supporting the idea that related cats can live together more harmoniously than unrelated cats can. And a cat with
previous negative experiences with other cats is likely to be less social with cats. | <urn:uuid:08be762c-3d1d-42c8-9e04-92f64ff12d6a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=185515&pageID=1&sk=&date= | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946004 | 783 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Literature Circles Lesson 4: Using Non-Fiction Texts
When using non-fiction reading essay writing selections from Holocaust and Human Behavior for Literature Circles, all the groups will read simultaneously within one category. For example, each group might be reading a different text from "Nazis in Power" essay with the idea that they can delve deeply into a shorter reading selection and come back and discuss with the whole class what they discovered. The teacher should frame the Literature Circle discussion with a mini-lesson or whole-class activity to prepare students for what they will encounter in the text. Similarly, after students complete their discussions, there should be a comprehensive class debrief in which students share the knowledge they gleaned from their respective readings.
- explore topics from a variety of perspectives.
- delve deeply into a selected non-fiction reading.
- participate in student-facilitated discussions.
- How can democratic reading methodogies enhance students' encounters with non-fiction texts?
- How can an in-depth experience with a shorter text enhance insight, analysis and comprehension?
- How can using Literature Circles with HHB readings supplement and complement the Facing History scope and sequence?
The teacher should begin the lesson with a short whole group activity so that students are appropriately prepared for the kind of material they will encounter in the readings. For example, if students are going to be reading within the section "Nazis in Power," the teacher might show a film clip or do a read-aloud or present a short lecture which captures some of the salient themes of the readings. The class can have a brief discussion before splitting into groups. During the warm-up the teacher can also frame the activity with a few essential questions.
Once students are in their discussion groups, each group will be assigned a reading from the day's topic. Students will be given time to read the selection silently and to fill in their role sheet. Once students are ready, they will meet with their group and have a 15-30 minute discussion of the reading. The teacher can rotate and sit in with different groups. Additionally, the teacher can provide reminders of the essential questions if he feels as though the groups are losing focus.
At the end of the discussion, the teacher should bring students together for a debrief of and reflection on the readings. The teacher may pose questions which will draw out the commonalities among the readings or conduct a "popcorn" session in which students freely share their impressions, emotions and intellectual repsonses to the respective texts.
A Humanities teacher may choose to conduct non-fiction literature circles throughout the Facing History unit to reinforce the scope and sequence and provide daily opportunity for student-centered discussion.
By doing a jigsaw at the end of the discussion period, students will have an opportunity to share their reading with their classmates. Also, teachers will have the opportunity to informally assess how carefully students read the assigned text. When the jigsaw is finished, teachers can do a casual oral or written "quiz" to see if students effectively taught one another the material.
|non-fiction book list.pdf||7.45 KB| | <urn:uuid:b494d951-64fc-4e00-9e61-3f97fe0adc55> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.facinghistory.org/resources/lessons/variations-literature-circles-us | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932144 | 644 | 3.75 | 4 |
District Attorney Jack Browning says he wants to educate the community about the crime of domestic violence.
He said this time of year is tough for many families. Some are paying off Christmas debt and have an uncertain employment future.
“During times of stress, incidents of domestic violence can increase.
I am working to get the message out that there is never an excuse for someone to become a victim of violence,” Browning said.
Browning is urging domestic abuse victims, and those who genuinely are concerned for a friend or relative’s safety, to call Our House Crisis
Line at 770-749-9330 or the Georgia Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-33-HAVEN. Browning says that just by calling one of the hotlines, a victim can tap into resources to create a personal safety plan and an exit strategy.
There are also legal options, he said.
“We are very fortunate to have an outstanding legal advocate serving our area. Those victims wanting help with obtaining protective orders may call the Office of the Legal Advocate at 770-748-6633,” Browning said.
Browning also offers this advice.
If you are still in the relationship:
·Think about and make a list of safe people to contact.
·Keep change with you at all times.
·Memorize all important numbers.
·Establish a "code word or sign" so that family, friends, teachers,
or co-workers know when to call for help.
·Think about what you will say should violence erupt.
·Remember you have the right to live without fear and violence.
If you have left the relationship:
·Change your phone number.
·Save and document all contacts, messages, injuries or other
incidents involving the batterer.
·Change locks, if the batterer has a key.
·Avoid staying alone.
·Plan how to get away if confronted by an abusive partner.
·If you have to meet your partner, do it in a public place.
·Vary your routine.
·Notify school and work contacts. | <urn:uuid:4c55c70c-ee02-4122-977d-ef16d5498e03> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thepolkfishwrap.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Polk+County-s+DA+gives+advise+on+preventing+domestic+abuse+cases%20&id=21715718&instance=home_news_1st_left | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935195 | 442 | 1.78125 | 2 |
MONTEGO BAY, April 8, 2010
– Imagine. Gay Pride in
Jamaica. The words of William Urich, the chair of InterPride Committee on International GLBTI Human Rights, on the
first public Pride even on the Caribbean island which was staged yesterday.
Officially, it was the Walk for Tolerance from Howard Cooke Park, along Howard Cooke Boulevard and ending on the beach.
“Yesterday was an amazing day, here in Montego Bay,” he told
UK Gay News.
“My eyes well up at the very thought of the day's outstanding and
Encouragingly, the walk had police support, Mr.
Around 100 took part in the walk, which was headed by Reverend Elder Nancy L. Wilson, the openly lesbian presiding bishop of the International Movement of Metropolitan Community Churches.
One participant commented: “I never thought I
would live to see the day that this could happen in Jamaica.”
And other ‘buzz phrases’ heard at the event included “I'm
exercising my rights”, “I feel so liberated”, “I have validation”, and
Walk for Tolerance was organised by
Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) is Jamaica’s oldest and
largest Non-Governmental Organization working in the area of HIV/AIDS
awareness, prevention and care.
■ More photographs will be added when they arrive.
They are expected on Friday.
In the meantime, There is a YouTube video on the walk. Click
All photos courtesy InterPride
Posted: 8 April 2009 at
12:00 (UK time)
(updated 17.15 with link to video) | <urn:uuid:8411c9d1-d566-4b58-98b8-5de052d66a07> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/10/Apr/0801.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00046-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939205 | 365 | 1.742188 | 2 |
In Syria Wednesday, two western journalists joined the thousands of Syrians who have already died in the conflict there. But perhaps more importantly, a Syrian citizen-journalist, who helped publish video from Homs, was also killed in the shelling.
As Egypt tries to adjust to and finish its transition to democracy, the country is struggling with outbursts and anger. But Farouk El-Baz, a former adviser to the former Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat, and a professor at Boston University, says the country is just experiencing normal, post-revolution shockwaves.
As the violence in Syria has continued and even escalated, it's been difficult for western journalists to get reports out of the country. New York Times reporter Anthony Shadid snuck in for a reporting trip recently that would wind up being his last. Shadid died in Syria this week of an apparent asthma attack.
Libya's revolution started a year ago and Libyans gathered in celebration to honor those they lost, celebrate what they achieved and look ahead to a future without Col. Muammar Gaddafi.
A hard-charging holdover from the Hosni Mubarak government in Egypt is leading the prosecution of non-profits in Egypt that has so roiled American politicians and could be leading to the worst rupture in relations between the United States and Egypt in 30 years.
Jay Carney, the White House Press Secretary, insists that the United States is adamantly opposed to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad remaining in power. He also said the United States is considering its options, when asked if the United States could provide arms to protesters.
As Egypt struggles to get back moving in the wake of its revolution and the army's stubborn hold on power, there's a growing feeling of xenophobia, foreigners say, on the streets of the country's cities.
As the United Nations, the Arab League and western nations fail to reach a plan for action to protect Syrian people being attacked by the army of President Bashar Al-Assad, Russian leaders say Syria is ready to negotiate with protesters. But protesters say they won't negotiate until Assad is gone — and they say they're paying the price in bodies.
Despite explicit warnings from top U.S. officials, Egypt will go ahead with trials of some 45 people accused of working for or running foreign-funded NGOs in the country, under a rule first imposed by deposed President Hosni Mubarak.
Violence in Syria escalated over the weekend with reports of another dozen or more people killed as President Bashar Al-Assad seeks to clamp down on the democratic uprising underway in the country. On Monday, the United States announced it had closed its embassy and withdrawn all its personnel from the country. | <urn:uuid:294d072d-00a3-4f7b-b32e-3fd0d1d94d5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pri.org/keywords/arab-spring/index.9.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975254 | 542 | 2.015625 | 2 |
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Teenagers who don't get enough sleep are more likely to have conditions that could affect their heart health down the road, a new report finds.
Researchers found that of 4,100 teenagers they studied, the one-third with the poorest sleep quality were more likely to be overweight or have unhealthy blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
Poor sleep included problems falling asleep or staying asleep, nighttime "restlessness" and bad dreams, among other things.
The findings do not prove that the sleep problems are to blame, according to senior researcher Dr. Brian C. McCrindle, of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.
"It's hard to get at the causal pathway," he said in an interview.
That is, sleep problems are often connected to a range of less-than-ideal lifestyle habits. People who get little sleep tend to get less exercise, spend more time in front of the TV and eat a poorer diet than better-rested folks.
And that was true of sleep-deprived teens in this study.
But even when the researchers factored those things in, poor sleep was still linked to a higher rate of potential heart risks. So it's possible that disturbed sleep, itself, plays a role.
And even if the link is indirect - daytime drowsiness keeping kids inactive, for example - it would be important for teens to catch enough Z's.
"When people think about cardiovascular risk, sleep doesn't usually come up," McCrindle said. "These findings give some more evidence that sleep is one of the things people should think about."
The study, which appears in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, included 4,100 Ontario teenagers who answered questions on their sleep quality. All of the kids were healthy, but the one-third with the worst sleep scores showed signs of potential heart trouble down the road.
Overall, 48 percent were either overweight or had elevated blood pressure or "bad" cholesterol. That compared with 39 percent of kids who were more well-rested.
Then the researchers weighed other factors - like kids' reports on their diet, exercise and TV habits. It turned out that the one-third of teens with the worst sleep quality were 43 percent more likely to have heart risk factors than the third with the best sleep quality.
And while the kids' hearts were healthy, that could change later in life.
"These risk factors tend to track into adulthood," McCrindle said. "And they tend to get worse."
Some studies in adults have linked poor sleep to heart disease and diabetes. Again, researchers don't know the precise reason. But one theory is that getting too little sleep could have negative effects on certain hormones - including ones that regulate appetite and fat metabolism.
People who are awake into the wee hours may also have more chances for snacking, and less energy for exercise the next day.
"I think the importance of sleep hygiene cannot be overemphasized," said Dr. Indra Narang, the lead researcher on the study.
"In general, we recommend that teenagers get 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night," Narang said. But in reality, she noted, studies suggest that half of teenagers get fewer than 7 hours of sleep on weeknights.
Weekends are a different story, since kids often take the chance to sleep in. But that doesn't make up for late nights during the week, Narang noted.
"You don't repay your sleep debt by sleeping in on the weekends," she said.
Narang and McCrindle said parents should encourage their kids to keep a consistent sleep schedule on all days of the week. And to help them do that, get the "stimulants" out of their bedrooms - TVs, computers and cell phones.
Cutting down on caffeinated drinks during the day can also help. Some of the biggest culprits, like energy drinks and coffee-based concoctions, are very popular with teenagers, McCrindle noted.
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/syhgnh CMAJ, online October 1, 2012.
The #1 daily resource for health and lifestyle news!
Your daily resource for losing weight and staying fit.
We could all use some encouragement now and then - we're human!
Explore your destiny as you discover what's written in your stars.
The latest news, tips and recipes for people with diabetes.
Healthy food that tastes delicious too? No kidding.
Yoga for Back Pain
Pets HelpYour Heart
Are YouMoney Smart? | <urn:uuid:6fad0fd6-c5f2-4b9a-a0a9-ac72383045f7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/obesity/news/2012/10/02/teens_poor_sleep_tied_to_heart_risk_factors.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966158 | 939 | 2.859375 | 3 |
America's Top Ten Greenest Buildings
From Almaden Tower to the Rocky Mountain Institute Boulder Office, these are the ten most eco-friendly buildings of 2008
by Liz Olson
With money-saving incentives on the rise, companies around the United States are joining a growing trend and making their buildings more environmentally friendly. Along with helping to reduce waste and emissions, green building has financial incentives for companies. Indeed, they can potentially save a significant amount of money on energy and water bills. The U.S. Green Building Council developed a points system called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, to rate buildings on their greenness. Depending on how environmentally friendly the design, businesses are awarded one of four ratings—certification, silver, gold, or platinum. Energy efficiency, water conservation, native plant use in landscaping, onsite gardens, recycling, use of natural light, among other factors contribute to a building's green ranking. Forbes.com lists the top ten buildings in America according to their U.S. Green Building Council green rating—all 10 have achieved platinum status.
Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:c048e974-cbac-4a81-be41-9fba3891c4c6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.infoplease.com/science/environment/greenest-buildings-us-2008.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938435 | 238 | 2.34375 | 2 |
Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom applauds the landslide passage of the Sudan Peace Act in Congress. The Act passed on October 7, 359 in favor and 8 opposed in the House of Representatives; on October 9 by unanimous consent in the Senate.
"The Act's commitment to a new, tough foreign policy on a forgotten country at a time when we are in the midst of the war against terrorism and a national debate on Iraq is a monumental victory for human rights and religious freedom," said Nina Shea, director of Freedom House's Center for Religious Freedom. "It was adopted, despite other pressing national priorities, because of broad grass-roots concern over Sudan among churches, religious organizations, and anti-slavery groups," Shea explained.
"This Act marks a change in the U.S. attitude to Khartoum," Shea asserted. "Until now, the U.S. has been resolutely neutral -- essentially saying that this is a civil war in which the U.S. has no stake, in which both sides are to blame, and that merely sitting at a negotiating table is a sufficient sign of the government's good faith," she added.
- Immediately authorizes aid to the south, with or without Khartoum's approval, in the amount of $300 million over the next three years, in order to "prepare the population for peace and democratic governance."
- Requires the President to certify every six months that Khartoum and the rebel SPLA are negotiating in good faith; or
- Specifies four sanctions against Khartoum if the President certifies that Khartoum is not negotiating in good faith, or has "unreasonably interfered with humanitarian efforts." The sanctions include opposing international loans and credits to Khartoum; downgrading diplomatic relations; denying Khartoum access to oil revenues; and seeking a UN Security Council Resolution to impose an arms embargo on Khartoum.
- Requires the administration to report on oil financing, acts of genocide, and on the obstruction of aid delivery by Khartoum.
Over the next six months, the Center vows to be vigilant in assessing Khartoum's "good faith." Shea asserted: "We will take as prima facie evidence of bad faith continued bombing of civilians, slave raids, and bans on relief flights. We will also look for results in the peace talks themselves; a just peace agreement must be reached in the six-month time frame agreed to by the parties. We will work with our partners in the Sudan Coalition to ensure the terms of the Act are met and that the United States ends its policy of indifference to Khartoum's acts of genocide."
If bad faith is determined, the Center and its Coalition partners will work in particular to enforce the oil revenue sanctions through boycotts and divestment campaigns and a renewal of the effort to obtain capital market sanctions - an effort that was recently dropped in a legislative compromise.
Over two million people from Sudan's largely Christian south have been killed in a 19-year civil war triggered over Khartoum's forcible imposition of Islamic sharia law. | <urn:uuid:69badee0-fc89-48a1-9a39-7ab6cbaf781e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hudson.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=publication_details&id=4740&pubType=HI_PressReleases | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954328 | 638 | 2.25 | 2 |
About - Strategic Systems Programs Facts
Functional Elements of the FBM System
The ability to strike a target with a ballistic missile warhead involves a precise determination of the launch point, a computation of the path to the target, and a system aboard the missile that will determine its course along the path to the target. In addition, the SLBM requires a system to launch the missile to the surface of the sea.
The ship’s navigation system provides the launch point, the ship’s fire control system computes the path equation, the missile guidance system follows this equation to release the reentry bodies that then fall on a predetermined ballistic path to the target(s), and the ship’s launcher system stows, protects, and launches the missile from the submarine.
Successfully striking a target with a ballistic missile at long range requires accurate knowledge of both target and launcher positions. In the FBM weapon system, the constant change in launch position as the FBM submarine sails the world’s oceans complicates accurate determination of launch position. The navigation subsystem uses sophisticated navigation equipment and procedures to provide highly accurate ship’s position, attitude, and velocity while maintaining essential FBM submarine covertness, which translates directly into survivability. The heart of the navigation subsystem is the inertial navigator, a complex system of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and computers, which relates a ship’s movement over the Earth from an initial position to give a continuous report of ship’s location without frequent reference to external position fixes. POLARIS, POSEIDON, and TRIDENT I FBM navigation subsystems used the Ship’s Inertial Navigation Subsystem (SINS) as an inertial navigator from 1960 to 2005. Systems similar to the FBM SINS guided the USS NAUTILUS and USS SKATE on their historic voyages beneath the polar ice in 1958 and the USS TRITON on her 84-day underwater cruise around the world in 1960.
The TRIDENT I (C4) navigation subsystem is a version of the SINS-based design used on 616 Class POSEIDON SSBNs that was upgraded to improve SSBN security and navigation subsystem reliability. An Electrostatically Supported Gyro Monitor (ESGM) extended the interval between external fixes while maintaining position accuracy, thereby reducing submarine vulnerability to detection. (ESGM was subsequently backfitted on all POSEIDON SSBNs.) Adding closed-loop air cooling increased reliability. The sonar system and satellite receiver were re-engineered to improve their performance. The TRIDENT I navigation subsystem supported the FBM weapon system from 1982 to 2005.
For TRIDENT II (D5), the navigation subsystem was redesigned to support tightened weapon system accuracy goals and to maintain an extended fix interval. Major changes include adoption of the Electrostatically-Supported Gyro Navigator (ESGN) as the inertial navigator, addition of the Navigation Sonar System (NSS) with increased capability to measure velocity, the Global Positioning System (GPS) to replace the aging Navy Navigation Satellite System (NAVSAT), and installation of a digital interface with the FBM weapon system and ship. All new, state - of - the - art computers and a highly automated operating and maintenance/diagnostic system support these major elements of the subsystem.
All but five TRIDENT I navigation subsystems were upgraded to a modified TRIDENT II configuration in an effort called the TRIDENT Navigation Commonality Program (TNCP). TNCP modifications implemented current commercial displays, print, and mass storage technology. TNCP reduced long-term navigation support requirements, resulting in significant cost savings over the TRIDENT I and II life cycles.
The navigation subsystem is upgraded to a D5 Backfit configuration during the period 2000 to 2007. D5 Backfit replaced both TRIDENT I and TNCP configurations and reduced the navigation equipment complement from 22 to 8 electronics cabinets by insertion of Commercial-Offthe Shelf (COTS) technology. The D5 Backfit navigation subsystem maximizes reuse of existing software and maintains current fleet accuracy and availability performance levels with a significant life cycle cost savings.
FBM SWS navigation subsystems must be sent to sea on SSBNs with assurance that they will function as designed the first time and every time. To this end, a navigation test ship has been employed to test navigation systems in an at-sea environment before their deployment on a submarine. USS COMPASS ISLAND (AG-153) steamed well over 100,000 miles supporting development tests for the FBM navigation subsystems. USS COMPASS ISLAND was retired in 1980 and was replaced by USNS VANGUARD (T-AG 194). USNS VANGUARD steamed over 250,000 miles in support of POSEIDON and TRIDENT I navigation subsystems and in development of the TRIDENT II navigation subsystem before retiring in 1999. USNS VANGUARD and USNS RANGE SENTINAL were replaced by USNS WATERS in January 1999. USNS WATERS is a Consolidated Support Ship (CSS) that currently performs at-sea missions in support of navigation and flight test support operations.
The fire control system consists of a powerful distributed computing environment that is used to prepare and support the guidance system for missile flight and to coordinate SWS operations during a prelaunch sequence. The fire control system provides the guidance system with stabilized platform orientation data to support positioning of the platform gimbals, and prelaunch flight calculations that enable missile self-guidance capabilities after launch. The platform orientation data consists of initial guidance system azimuth and elevation position data and periodic navigation data used by the guidance system to determine and correct positioning errors. The guidance system uses the prelaunch flight calculations to determine the flight trajectory for the missile. The function of the fire control system is to collect, compute, and provide the proper data to C4 D5 the guidance system in each missile to ensure that each reentry body is released with the correct speed and direction required to reach a specific target. Delivery of reentry bodies to a target involves launching a missile from a mobile launch platform (the submarine) and guiding it through a flight path so it can release its reentry bodies to free-fall to their selected targets. Since portions of the flight calculations are constantly changing, the fire control system ensures that the most recent and correct flight data is entered into the guidance system before missile launch. At the same time, the fire control system continuously monitors the condition and operation of the guidance system.
The fire control system coordinates a prelaunch sequence by monitoring the SWS and the fire control subsystems required for a launch and by initiating the fire control system and SWS functions at the proper time. To accomplish these tasks, the fire control system receives data from the navigation, launcher, guidance, and missile systems. Using this data, the fire control system determines SWS readiness status, initiates the prelaunch sequence, verifies guidance system operability, provides prelaunch power to the missile, and computes and sends guidance, flight control, target data, earth rotation, guidance system correction coefficients, gravity, star location for inflight correction, time of day, polar motion (earth wobble), target area wind and air density, and fuze set data (reentry body detonation instructions) to the missile. Status reports and data from the navigation, launcher, guidance, and missile systems are monitored by the fire control system to determine if key events are completed prior to the missile launch. An operator control station in the FCS provides the primary fire control operator interface for controlling and monitoring SWS operations during a prelaunch sequence.
The TRIDENT I (C4) Mk 5 and TRIDENT II (D5) Mk 6 guidance systems are both stellaraided inertial systems. They are composed of precision gyroscopes, accelerometers, a stellar tracker, and computer. After launch, the guidance system directs the missile on a corrected trajectory compensating for submarine position, in-flight effects such as high winds, and internal guidance calibratable parameters. The guidance system provides the reference for maintaining missile stability and triggering the reentry body separation for a ballistic trajectory to the target.
The POLARIS A1, A2, and A3 missiles all used what was known as Q-guidance where most of the final computation was done by the Fire Control System prior to launch with only simple tasks left for the guidance computer. The POSEIDON C3 missile used a much more accurate system of continuous computation of trajectory in flight based on position and velocity. Advances in integrated circuitry made it possible for C3 guidance to carry a computer with this capability. The stellar updates used in the C4 and D5 guidance systems correct even further for launch point, trajectory, and inertial measurement errors to produce even higher degrees of accuracy.
TRIDENT missiles are launched from the submarine by a steam generator system. A small, fixed solid-grain gas generator is ignited and its exhaust directed through cooling water into the base of the launch tube. The missile is ejected from the tube, through the water, and to the surface. At that point, the missile’s first-stage rocket motor ignites and sends the missile on its way. Each launch tube has its own launching system independent of the other tubes. Vital parts of each missile are accessible for inspection and maintenance even when loaded in the launch tubes and while the submarine is at sea. | <urn:uuid:50a46273-3eb1-49fc-86f2-b2a5cb903490> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ssp.navy.mil/about/history_facts_3.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914245 | 1,938 | 2.828125 | 3 |
The record-breaking £1 billion Walney wind farm off the coast of Cumbria is being officially opened by UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey today.
The development, which has seen the installation of 102 of Siemens’ 3.6 MW turbines, is a joint venture between DONG Energy, SSE and OPW.
The 367.2 MW wind farm will now provide enough power to supply up to 320,000 households.
Built in two parts, Walney 2 was constructed in the fastest ever time for an offshore wind project, with all turbines and cables installed in just five months and 13 days.
The wind farm is also the first UK project to receive investments from a pension fund service provider and an equity fund before construction – OPW is a consortium of the Dutch pension fund service provider PGGM and Ampere Equity Fund.
“Britain has a lot to be proud of in our growing offshore wind sector,” commented Davey. “And Walney is the newest, biggest and fastest-built jewel in that crown, providing clean power for hundreds of thousands of households.”
CEO of DONG Energy, Anders Eldrup, added:
“Walney is a landmark in offshore wind and DONG Energy’s strong drive to further industrialise offshore wind power and cut costs. It demonstrates our commitment to invest in the UK.”
For further information:
UK government promises to continue supporting onshore wind (7-Feb)
UK leads European installation of 866 MW offshore wind in 2011 (23-Jan)
UK blows through 6 GW wind capacity milestone (19-Jan)
UK MOD signs deal to enable 4 GW of wind farms (17-Jan)
09 February 2012 | <urn:uuid:4528f5d1-96df-4b71-baa9-0a77e6673fa7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/articles/i/4855/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929398 | 358 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are those cameras I see on the freeways?
- Does Caltrans save the videos to use for other purposes?
- Do you monitor speeders with these videos?
- Why don't you offer all your cameras on the web?
Closed-Circuit Television Cameras are being installed on many freeways in urban areas. The pictures are beamed into our Transportation Management Centers across the state, where the images are used to verify reported incidents and to dispatch the appropriate response. We are making some of these pictures available on this web page so commuters can make informed decisions as to when to take a trip on the freeway.
We don't save any of the videos.
There are strict guidelines regarding the use and transmission of these pictures. They are strictly for traffic management use only, not for law enforcement.
We would like to, but Caltrans has hundreds of cameras monitoring California freeways. Adding a camera to our site requires extra equipment and setup for each camera. We're offering as many cameras as we have bandwidth and equipment for right now. | <urn:uuid:d3dcb43b-b16e-48a9-8c19-6e538824c948> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.video.dot.ca.gov/faq.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945974 | 222 | 2.171875 | 2 |
Milton Friedman was an extraordinary Nobel Prize-winning economist whose ideas helped underpin modern conservative economic theory. His contributions to economics and the conservative movement cannot be underestimated. Sadly, Milton Friedman passed away a little more than five years ago at the ripe old age of 94. Although Friedman is no longer with us, his words, his ideas, and his legacy live on. In honor of Friedman, here are some of his best quotations. | <urn:uuid:fb757c70-a635-4c6b-804a-9d298f0ad068> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://townhall.com/tags/debt-crisis/page/3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970278 | 86 | 1.9375 | 2 |
If you want to be surrounded by females on the prowl, it pays to be cool, at least if you are a male butterfly.
In an unusual example of sex role reversals, females actively court males after being exposed to cool, dry temperatures as caterpillars, Yale University researchers report in the Jan. 7 issue of the journal Science. Raised in the moist and warmer season as larvae, males take up the traditional roles of suitor, displaying their wing designs to females who do the choosing.
"Behavior in these butterflies is changed by the temperatures experienced during development," said Kathleen L. Prudic, post-doctoral researcher in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology and co-author of the paper.
Those females raised in the cooler season and actively courting males will live longer lives once they mate relative to their mated counterparts in the hotter season who are engaged in more passive mate shopping.
The research began when Prudic and Antonia Monteiro, professor in ecology and evolutionary biology, asked why female squinting bush brown butterflies or Bicyclus anynana had beautiful ornamental patterns shaped like eyes on their wings just as males did. In most species, males end up with often elaborate and colorful ornamentation to attract mates while females, who do the selecting, tend toward duller displays. The researchers theorized that perhaps courtship behavior might change given different environmental conditions. They tested the behavior of butterflies raised in larval stage at 27 degrees C and at 17 degrees C.
As expected, female Bicyclus anynana in warmer moister conditions that mimic the wet season in the native African range were more likely to mate with males with ornamented wings. However, the roles were reversed in cooler drier climates. Females played the role of suitors and flashed their eye spots to choosy males. When scientists studied the wing spots, which reflect light in the UV range, invisible to humans, they found they were brighter in the courting females relative to the males of that same season, or relative to females raised in the hotter season.
Prudic said that male butterflies also deliver nutrients as well as sperm during mating and that in less than optimal times for reproduction (the dry cool season) these male offerings appear to lead to increased female longevity. Females want to survive through the dry season and furiously display to as many males as possible in order to obtain these resources from males. Males, on the other hand, become very careful about choosing who they give these resources to because once they do, they liver shorter lives. Only the ladies carrying bright eyespots have a good chance of attracting a mate.
Hui Cao and Cheonha Jeon of Yale contributed to the work.
The study was funded by the American Association of University Women, the Yale Institute of Biospheric Studies and Yale University.
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system. | <urn:uuid:7d56a36f-2322-4aa4-85c6-fd5c86f6cd38> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-01/yu-010311.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967145 | 619 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Java open-source frameworks 'pose risk' to biz - report
Hibernate and don't mingle your Java and C/C++, warns software analyst
Open-source programming frameworks revolutionised Java development during the last decade, but not enough people know how to use them properly.
That’s according to the CRASH Special Report by CAST that sampled 496 applications with 152 million lines of code and found most apps had been misconfigured. This increased the degree of risk from a security perspective and lowered the quality threshold, by letting more bugs sneak in.
CAST, who makes software analysis tools, said the most popular open-source frameworks in use with Java are Struts, Java Enterprise Edition, Hibernate and Spring. CAST reckoned Hibernate has the highest quality scores and Struts the lowest scores.
Applications built without a framework of any kind had a “huge variance in quality,” CAST said in its report.
However, CAST noted apps built using just Java EE, without a framework and without any mingling of difference languages, also scored highly on quality.
Mixing Java with C or C++ lowered the score but mixing Java with COBOL, Java-DB and Microsoft’s .NET delivered “higher quality scores.”
The common link is the framework, and knowing how to use it properly.
CAST reckoned its report showed that a large majority of applications analysed had some level of misconfiguration, indicating the need for better training or to simplify the use of frameworks.
“IT leaders should double-check their choice of framework, how they mix languages, and how they enforce architectural integrity. Frameworks boost developer productivity, but they can also heighten risk and reduce quality,” CAST said. ® | <urn:uuid:eb7a67c3-7126-4c20-98f6-b12817e4aef7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/31/opensource_frameworks_bugs/print.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940547 | 374 | 2.265625 | 2 |
224 E. Houston Street,
20 people favorited this theater
The Majestic Theatre was opened June 14th, 1929 by the Interstate Theatre Corporation, designed by Chicago architect John Eberson. It is regarded as among the best examples of Eberson’s Atmospheric style theatres in the country.
When it opened, the Majestic Theatre had a seating capacity of 3,703, the largest movie house of the South at that time, and among the many movie houses of San Antonio, including the nearby Empire Theatre, the Texas Theatre and the Aztec Theatre. The Majestic was probably the city’s most popular-an entertainment mecca unlike anything the city had ever seen, hosting vaudeville, stage shows and motion pictures.
While the exterior was fairly straightforward (except for the marquee and multi-story vertical sign), looking like simply an office tower that could have been in any US city of the day, the inside was awe-inspiring. From its spacious lobby, complete with statuary and ornate plasterwork, as well as an aquarium filled with tropical fish, to its lounges and various other public areas, patrons must have immediately felt like they were in a fantasy land, but it wasn’t until they entered the auditorium itself that they were truly transported.
The auditorium, with its tiered balconies, and sea of plush seats, was cavernous. Its ceiling, painted deep blue, was dotted with “stars”, with artificial clouds slowly rolling by. Eberson insisted on being as authentic as possible, and consulted the National Geographic Society to make sure the constellations were accurate. The side walls were built to resemble a Spanish village, complete with ivy-covered turrets and spires, windows and archways, Roman statuary and stuffed birds half hidden in the greenery.
Three sets of boxes on either side of the balcony, stretching along the side walls, blend smoothly into the ornate plaster facades. Above the soaring proscenium, itself covered in plasterwork, is a statue of the goddess Venus, looking across the auditorium.
After decades delighting audiences, both with its onscreen offerings, as well as the breathtaking surroundings, the Majestic, like so many of its neighbors, drew less and less patrons once television became more and more prevalent, and finally closed in 1974.
Seven years later, after a superficial remodeling (which unfortunately removed a great deal of the original decor, which had been mostly intact until then), the Majestic reopened as a venue for touring Broadway shows, until it was closed again in 1988, for a complete renovation and restoration project, which would return the theater to close to its original splendor. Las Casas, the Foundation for Cultural Arts in San Antonio, spent close to $5 million on bringing the palace back to life.
When it reopened amidst great fanfare in 1989, it was now the home of the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, which celebrated its half century by moving into its magnificent new venue.
In addition to classical concerts, the Symphony also offers a “Pops” series, as well as children’s concerts. The Majestic continues to also host Broadway shows, including “Miss Saigon”, “Rent”, and “Beauty and the Beast”.
The Majestic Theatre is listed on both the State and National Register of Historic Places.
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater | <urn:uuid:90f1a646-a86e-4a56-913f-a6370252681e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3158 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974915 | 711 | 2.171875 | 2 |
UK Visa Appeals
There are many routes to which you may claim Asylum in the UK.
If you are defined as a person "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it" then you may be eligible to claim asylum in the UK.
- UK Visa Appeals
- UK Asylum
- Human Rights
- Illegal Immigrants
Our specialist immigration advisors can help you if you wish to appeal or extend your UK Visa if; You have been refused a UK Visa, your Visa extension was refused, your UK Visa has expired, your Visa will expire in the near future, you are an illegal immigrant, you are held in custody on a Visa matter, you are an Asylum seeker or you seek a Visa on Human Rights grounds.
UK Asylum is protection given by the UK Home Office to a person who is fleeing persecution in their own country Asylum is given under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
Bail is when people who are detained by the UK Border Agency are released, on certain conditions. All detainees have the right to apply for bail if they have been in the UK for at least 7 days.
The European Convention on Human Rights is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe.
The Convention on Human Rights, prevents the UK sending someone to a country where there is a genuine risk that they will be exposed to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
If a person's UK Visa has expired, they have no Visa or have breached their Visa conditions they are considered as an illegal immigrant. If this is the case they are likely to be held in detention and deported. | <urn:uuid:6117493a-841e-40e8-8804-47b151a86780> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ukvisaandimmigration.co.uk/uk-visa-appeals-categories.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965214 | 416 | 1.96875 | 2 |
Calendar of Mexican food festivals
Possibly no other country in the world has as many festivals, fairs and feast days as Mexico. National holidays, religious holidays and people's santos (saints' days) are all celebrated with gusto, as are the observances of the patron saints of virtually every city, town and pueblito. The santoral, or calendar of saints' days, is so crowded with names that nearly every day brings a reason for a fiesta in any given neighborhood, and one of the most essential elements of these festivities is food. So important is the cultivation, preparation and consumption of nature's bounties that there are ferias (fairs) dedicated solely to the local harvest.
The feria is a regional celebration, usually of a particular town or village. Fireworks, games, rides and food stalls offering local specialties are all featured at a feria. There is music and folk dancing, as well as verbenas - the night time dances that are held in the town plaza.
The following is a list of festivals throughout Mexico which feature culinary creations made with the food being honored, as well as other traditional dishes. This calendar is by no means a list of all ferias, but rather a month-by-month rundown of those devoted to particular foods.
If you happen to be visiting the area while a fair is going on, by all means participate. Taste the food, enjoy the music and dancing, and check out the artesania - every region has it's special handcrafts. If it is not on this list, let us know about it! Karen's E-mail.
(Also see the Mexico Connect Fiestas Calendar)
JANUARY / ENERO
Malinalco, State of Mexico, Three Kings Bread Fiesta.
The traditional Rosca de Reyes, in some of the most elaborate forms seen in the country, is the highlight of this celebration in the town which contains the remarkable Pre-Hispanic Malinalco ruins. A fantastic temple cut into the side of a mountain has 430 steps leading up to the inner sanctum of eagle and jaguar effigies.
Malinalco is 25 miles south of Toluca on Hwy. 55.
FEBRUARY / FEBRERO
Xochimilco, D.F., Amaranth Candy and Olive Festival / Festival de la Alegría y el Olivo
In this southernmost part of the Federal District, known for its ancient floating gardens, which the visitor may see from colorful punt boats, a festival dedicated to the pre-hispanic grain features amaranth in its many forms, some of which are moles, hot drinks, the sweet snack bars called alegrías, and many cereals and noodles.
A large crafts market is a permanent feature.
Canelas, Durango, Feria Regional del Café y del Guayaba - Coffee and Guava Fair.
Sample different java blends and guava preserves, conserves and marmelades, as well as regional comidas and antojitos in the rugged, wildly beautiful mountains of north central Mexico.
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexican National Chili Cook-off Championship
An internationally known Championship with entries from many countries. Exhibits, entertainment and superb chili.
MARCH / MARZO
Dzula,Quintana Roo, Traditional Mayan Food Fiesta.
Enjoy the tasty specialties of the Maya of the Yucatan peninsula in an indigenous village that was chosen for inclusion in the Mexican Photo Archives of the Beatrice Trueblood Studio in Mexico City.
Dzula is 30 miles west on Hwy. 184 from Felipe Carillo Puerto (54 miles south of Tulúm on Hwy. 307.)
APRIL / ABRIL
April 20-May 13
Aguascalientes, Aguas., Wine Festival.
Dedicated to San Marcos, this fair in the state capital features local food and beverages, as well as cockfights, bullfights, and a lavishly decorated plaza. Said to be the largest fair in Mexico, there is a constant schedule of dances, processions, and exhibits.
Bring your camera to this one.
April 30-May 10
Rosario, Sinaloa, Regional Fruit, Vegetable and Salsa Fair.
This town, which produces some of the best hot sauces in Mexico, celebrates its bounty with a fair displaying the wide variety of produce grown in the area, as well as several regional food stalls and many locally produced salsas.
If it's warm, cool off with a dip in the ocean; the beach is only 12 miles away, and the resort town of Mazatlan 39 miles away.
MAY / MAYO
Loma Bonita, Oaxaca, Feria de la Piña- Pineapple Festival.
Located in an area of lush tropical vegetation 20 miles from Cosamaloapan, Veracruz, in the fertile agricultural region of the Playa San Vicente River, this town is known for its very sweet and juicy pineapples, and is a center for processing the fruit for worldwide exportation, as well as distribution all over the Mexican republic.
The fair has large commercial, industrial and agricultural exhibits, and is a good place to buy a wide variety of artesania from Oaxaca and Veracruz.
Escárcega, Campeche, Feria del Arroz- Rice Festival.
This is the gateway to the Maya Route, and where authentic Yucatecan food really begins.
A little over 40 miles along Hwy 261 from the shrimping port of Champoton, Escárcega has no shortage of seafood, which is featured in a number of the rice dishes served at the fair.
May 25-June 3
Tequisquiapan, Queretaro, National Wine and Cheese Fair.
Taste Mexico's best wines and cheeses, and try some delicious local dishes, in this charming little town, 12 miles from San Juan del Rio and easily accessible from the Mexico-Queretaro toll highway. Cheese making, an honored tradition here, has expanded in recent years to include some gourmet varieties.
The increasing popularity of this fair has generated appreciation for the lovely small hotels and inns in the area.
Tlaxcalancingo, Puebla, Festival de Nopales - Nopal Festival.
This pueblito is just a few miles from downtown Puebla, but looks like a painting from an antique Mexican calendar. Set against a backdrop of snow-covered volcanos, amidst fields of nopal cactus, this town celebrates its spiney harvest with a food fair featuring nopal salads, stews, stuffed nopales and even nopal ice cream, as well as other delicious regional specialties, grilled meats and barbeque.
Listen to one of the largest pipe organs in Mexico in the town's 16th century church.
JUNE / JUNIO
Papantla, Veracruz, Festival de Vainilla, Vanilla Festival.
Built on a hill overlooking the bright green plains of northern Veracruz, Papantla is the center of the Totonac culture and one of the world's largest vanilla producing zones.
The festival hosts indigenous dancers from all over the area performing the dances of the Quetzales, Negritos, and Voladores, the last one being done from a 50-foot pole in the church atrium. There are booths with regional food and beverages, small animal figures and baskets woven from vanilla bean pods, sachets and vanilla essence.
Only 6 miles from the prehispanic ruin site of El Tajin, with its famous pyramid of 365 windows, Papantla is an ideal place to stay if visiting the site and museum. 01 800 8316120
JULY / JULIO
Oaxaca, Oax., Feria del Mescal - Mescal Fair.
Attractive wooden cabins are constructed near the Zocalo - main plaza - for the purpose of displaying the best of Oaxacan mescal, currently a popular, upscale beverage in both foreign and domestic markets.
In addition to marvelous Oaxacan culinary specialties and music, a wide variety of artesania is featured.
AUGUST / AGUSTO
Ensenada, Baja California, Fiesta de Vendimia - Wine Grape Harvest Festival.
Taste wine from Mexico's largest and most famous vinyards of the Santo Tomas Valley in this delightful coastal city on the Bahia de Todos Santos. The festival also offers a variety of comida corridas, traditional Mexican main meals.
A great time of year to enjoy the Pacific coast side of the Baja peninsula.
Tala, Nayarit, Fiesta de Elote - Corn Festival.
This event features the wide variety of Mexican antojitos - appetizers and snacks - based on the corn tortilla. There are bullfights, cockfights, games and processions.
Tala is easily accessible from the main highway that connects Tepic and Guadalajara. (311) 214-8071 to 73
August 25- 28
Gomez Palacio, Durango, Feria del Algodón y de la Uva - Cotton and Grape Fair.
Located in the highly productive La Laguna farming district, just on the other side of the Nazas River from Torreón, Coahuila, Gomez Palacio pays tribute to its two most important crops with commercial and agricultural displays, food stalls, entertainment and beauty contests.
SEPTEMBER / SEPTIEMBRE
Sirutato, Sinaloa, Feria del Durazno - Peach Fair.
The delicious and versatile peach is a natural for preserves and baked goods, and they are available in abundance to be sampled at this fair. Regional dancing and a traditional verbena - town dance - are highlights of the feria.
Sirutato is located in the part of Sinaloa called Badiraguato, cahita-tarascan for "the place of rivers among mountains", and is on the Humaya River, north of Culiacan. (668) 812-1336 / 815-1090
OCTOBER / OCTUBRE
Cuetzalan, Puebla, Feria del Café - Coffee Festival.
Cuetzalan is located on the western slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental, where some of the best coffee beans in Mexico are grown. The aroma of the freshly roasted beans beckons aficionados from other parts of Mexico and the world to come to the feria and taste the coffee, local fruit liquers, and antojitos in abundance.
This fair also highlights local artesanía, especially the embroidered huipiles of the region. Nearby is the 35-meter waterfall La Gloria, and the niched pyramids of Yohualichan.
Cuetzalan is a day trip from Puebla, via highway 129, and from Mexico City via 190 and 129.
San Pedro Actópan, State of Mexico, Festival del Mole - Mole Festival.
Literally thousands of mounds of mole paste of every type fill the stalls set up for the preparation, tasting and sales of this quintessentially Mexican dish. Eat your fill at the many impromptu restaurants, and by all means take some home; mole paste keeps for several months in the freezer.
San Pedro Actópan is located just outside the Milpa Alta section of southern Mexico City. 55 5844 9022 / 5844- 2893
Cholula, Puebla, Feria del Pan - Bread Fair.
A huge brick oven is constructed in the main plaza and bakers from Cholula and neighboring towns give demonstrations of traditional Mexican breadmaking. There is plenty for tasting, and over 150 different kinds of bread for sale, fancifully displayed in various forms, including those for the upcoming Days of the Dead.
Located 4 miles from Puebla on the Recta highway, Cholula is also the home of the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, as well as several 16th century churches and convents. A 15-minute bus ride or drive from town is Tonanzintla, where the fantastic Indian church attracts world travelers. (222) 261 2393
NOVEMBER / NOVIEMBRE
Chignahuapan, Puebla, Christmas Bread Fair.
Beautifully shaped loaves, including the famous pan de hilo, which is made into little animal forms to decorate the statues of the Virgin on Candlemas, are for tasting and for sale at the fair.
Also featured are the meat stews for which the town is well-known, and a variety of handmade Christmas ornaments. Pottery made from the red clay of the area is a cottage industry, and country roads are lined with a variety for sale.
Chignahuapan, which has hot springs and a mineral bath spa, is a three-hour drive or bus ride from Mexico City. (797) 971-0077/ 0019 / 0485
Gomez Farías, Tamaulipas, Feria del Maíz - Corn Fair.
This month-long fair highlights corn in many forms: soups, stews, pozoles, and the multitude of enchiladas and antojitos based on the corn tortilla.
This town is an important center for the observation and study of several species of tropical birds which reach the northern limit of their range in the tropical vegetation formations of this area. An easy one-mile walk from the center of town provides an excellent view of bird habitats.
The turnoff to Gomez Farías is 40 miles south of Ciudad Victoria on Hwy. 85.01 834 315 6249
DECEMBER / DECIEMBRE
Oaxaca, Oax., Radish Festival.
Huge radishes are carved into grotesque shapes and fanciful forms, including entire nativity Buñuelos are traditionally sold and eaten and the plates smashed afterward. The next night there is a parade of floats through the center of town. | <urn:uuid:1f1bb524-1603-4879-9fba-95c30a452f63> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/2255-calendar-of-mexican-food-festivals | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916792 | 2,951 | 2.0625 | 2 |
Very Original DIY Lamp Of Paper Cups
If you decided to make an original lamp, you won’t need much time or expensive materials. A cool idea is to make the lamp of usual paper cups. The supplies are paper cups for tea or coffee and LED lights. Attach 7 cups in each other to make a flower – you may do it with stapler or glue. Put a LED light in each cup, the LEDs should already be connected, insert them through the bottom. Then attach 6 or 7 such flowers to each other and enjoy the result! The lamp can be used as a table one and as a pendant also. | <urn:uuid:fc46b6da-df23-42c8-805d-9e9d17d57a7a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.shelterness.com/very-original-diy-lamp-of-paper-cups/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935635 | 130 | 1.90625 | 2 |
Wednesday, May 22 | 69°F H: 86°F / L: 70°F
When you think of cities positioned best to weather the economic storm, which ones come to mind? Austin, perhaps? Minneapolis? How about Orlando? You may think of this city only as home to tourist attractions, but Orlando is quickly building a reputation as an economic and political trailblazer. Most U.S. cities are struggling to dig out of the recession, facing budget shortfalls, tabled growth plans and political infighting, but the City of Orlando is in the midst of an economic renaissance marked by thousands of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new projects opening or under way.
These major developments are aimed squarely at diversifying and bolstering the commercial, residential and cultural landscape of Downtown Orlando and the city overall. And they are being fueled by an unprecedented collaboration between government and private industry. The common objective: position Orlando as a leader in the nations recovery and create the next generation of careers. Here are the hard facts:
On Oct. 1, 2010, a $480 million, multiuse sports and events facility made its debut. The 875,000-square-foot Amway Center is not only the NBAs greenest and most technologically advanced arena as home to the Orlando Magic, but it put thousands of people to work and continues to be a critical source of jobs and revenue for a multitude of businesses that otherwise might have closed during the ongoing economic slump.
Just a few blocks away, plans are moving forward on a distinctive, nine-acre complex that could eventually include up to three unique theaters and accommodate Broadway productions, concerts, the symphony, opera and ballet as well as educational facilities. Through the first year of operation, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is expected to generate 4,000 jobs and have an economic impact reaching $240 million.
Orlando already is home to one of the nations largest digital-media and simulation clusters, so its only natural that city leaders are steaming ahead with plans to redevelop a large swath of Downtown for a visionary project called Creative Village. This is a place where creative and educational businesses and organizations will converge, spawning the next generation of careers and becoming home literally to thousands more residents and workers accounting for $300 million-plus in wages.
The fourth component of Downtown Orlandos revival is a multimillion-dollar commuter rail line, SunRail, that will provide a crucial transportation alternative along a 61-mile stretch of existing tracks, from Volusia County to the north, through a hub located in the heart of Downtown Orlando, and south to Osceola County.
Learn more about how these projects are bolstering the citys resurgence by clicking here or contacting Christina Morton at (407) 834-7777 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
From 11 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. daily, while much of Orlando sleeps, a team of city workers known as The Downtown Clean Team scours 119 city blocks of Downtown Orlando, picking up trash, pressure cleaning sidewalks and bus stops, pulling weeds and hand-watering and fertilizing 525 planters, maintaining 1,500 trees and palms and otherwise keeping the streets spiffy for workers and residents.
Catherine and Wil Reeves moved from Winter Park to Downtown Orlando, settling into a 1920s home (with basement) within walking distance of the heart of the Central Business District. Catherine, a Syracuse, N.Y., native who once hustled manuscripts for a busy Madison Avenue publishing house, says she is “absolutely in love” with the Downtown Orlando lifestyle. “We know everyone. It’s just a very close kind of community.” And with more than 340 retailers, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs, a multiplex movie theater, an array of cultural and sports venues and even Florida’s largest public library all within the Downtown district, Catherine Reeves says “this is a live-work-and-play environment.” Everything is nearby: “You can easily walk to 20 or 30 restaurants.”
For media inquiries or to request press materials, photos or video, please contact:
City of Orlando, Office of the Mayor
Please wait while my tweets load | <urn:uuid:4a17d7e0-d418-469a-87c3-554fa5dcb4b1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.downtownorlando.com/newsroom/story-ideas | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935838 | 874 | 1.625 | 2 |
European Standards Organisations present the latest results of their work to develop standards for Smart Grids
Published by CEN-CENELEC on 30 January 2013
On the occasion of the European Conference on Smart Grid Standardization Achievements, which took place in Brussels this week (on 28 January), the European Standards Organisations – CEN, CENELEC and ETSI – presented the latest results of their joint work to prepare and develop the standards that are needed to accelerate the deployment of the next generation of electricity networks, known as 'Smart Grids'.
The European Conference on Smart Grid Standardization Achievements was organised by the European Commission (DG ENERGY) in Brussels on 28 January, in partnership with the three European Standards Organisations (ESOs) – CEN (European Committee for Standardization), CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).
The Conference was opened by Günther Oettinger, the EU Commissioner responsible for Energy, who spoke about the importance of standardization for developing the new generation of electricity networks, known as 'Smart Grids'. He welcomed the fact that the responsible authorities as well as the competent standards organisations in Europe are cooperating closely with their counterparts in other parts of the world, including North America.
The main purpose of the conference was to disseminate and discuss the results of the work carried out by CEN, CENELEC and ETSI in response to requests issued by the European Commission to develop standards for Smart Grids (under EC mandate M/490) and Smart Metering (M/441), as well as the charging of electric vehicles (M/468).
Speaking on behalf of the three ESOs, Tore Trondvold, CENELEC President, reminded the Conference that "standards help to promote innovative products and services by building confidence among industrial users and consumers and creating large-scale markets".
The chairpersons of the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Smart Grid Coordination Group (Ralph Sporer), CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Smart Meters Coordination Group (Daniel Hec) and CEN-CENELEC eMobility Coordination Group (David Dossett) presented the accomplishments of their respective groups. They underlined the fact that standards supporting current industry applications are in many cases either already available or being developed on the basis of best practices and 'state-of-the-art' technologies. These standards play a crucial role in the successful integration of innovative technologies in complex systems such as Smart Grids.
Addressing the closing session, Luis Jorge Romero, Director General of ETSI, said that the successful work done by the three ESOs shows how much can be achieved when different companies and other stakeholders work together. A great diversity of interested parties have joined forces to agree common standards and avoid market fragmentation.
The three European Standards Organisations (ESOs), namely CEN, CENELEC and ETSI, have been tasked by the European Commission (under standardization mandate M/490 – published on 1 March 2011) to deliver (a) a technical reference architecture and (b) a set of consistent standards to support the exchange of information and the integration of all operators within the system, as well as (c) sustainable standardization processes and collaborative tools to enable stakeholder interaction. Furthermore, the ESOs have also been asked to investigate standards for information security and data privacy encompassing harmonised high level requirements.
The European Commission’s policy in this area is set out in its Communication ‘Smart Grids: from innovation to deployment’ (published in April 2011). According to the Commission, smart electricity grids should reduce CO2 emissions by 9% and household energy consumption by 10%. They will also facilitate the expansion of renewable energy including de-centralised micro-generation of electricity using solar panels (photovoltaic) and wind turbines. Smart grids therefore have a crucial role to play in enabling the EU to reach the targets of its integrated energy and climate change policy (adopted in December 2008).
The ESOs have set up a Smart Grid Coordination Group (SG-CG) with four working groups focusing on the main elements of the mandate. In 2012, the SG-CG produced reports on: Reference Architecture; a First Set of Consistent Standards; Sustainable Processes; and Information security and data privacy. The group has also produced a Framework Document, which provides an overview of the activities and describes how the different elements fit together as to provide the consistent framework for Smart Grids. All of these reports are available on the Smart Grids page of the CEN-CENELEC website.
The work on Smart Grids (under mandate M/490) is being coordinated with other standardization work that is currently underway in relation to Smart Meters and Electric Vehicles (under mandates M/441 and M/468 respectively) so as to ensure a coherent framework. The SG-CG is also collaborating with several international and regional standards organisations, with the aim of working towards common international standards for smart grids.
For more information about the European Conference on Smart Grid Standardization Achievements, please see the European Commission (DG ENERGY) website.
The full version of this press release can be found on the CEN-CENELEC website:
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre
T: +32 2 550 08 32 | <urn:uuid:585c548c-530f-4fc9-a5a9-c4ac3be48a94> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pr.euractiv.com/press-release/european-standards-organisations-present-latest-results-their-work-develop-standards-s | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93407 | 1,121 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Recently our kittens had to wear cones after surgery. Their reactions captured their personalities and some basic differences in approaches to life’s troubles.
The cone disturbed Bo mightily. He didn’t know what to make of it and he immediately became miserable. I’m trapped in a cone. This is terrible. He dragged himself backwards until he hit a corner, where he hunched down and gave up.
Initially, Leo also wigged out and dragged himself backwards. But he quickly adapted. I guess now I’m a cat who — wears a cone. Okay! Within a few minutes he had evolved an odd but successful, neck-craned gait and had found new ways to pursue his favorite pastime, playing with tiny pieces of crud.
Arrow rebelled against the whole concept of cones. As soon as we put a cone on her, she began whipping her head from side to side and pawing the cone’s edges. No way am I wearing this, get this @#&%$ thing off me. She had it removed and hurled across the room within about 10 seconds.
So far, I have gone through life with responses on the Arrow-Bo spectrum, but I aspire to become more like Leo. How about you? | <urn:uuid:39f78cb9-d762-4522-a0a9-5e54b6839425> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sueperryauthor.com/2013/03/09/which-one-are-you-like/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984854 | 263 | 1.507813 | 2 |
We have argued elsewhere that a strong economy and social justice are two sides of the same coin feeding on each other to create wealthy and sustainable societies.
A wonderful exchange between Jeffrey Sachs and Niall Ferguson about the role of the state and the market and some related articles, and commentary on what is wrong with politicians, rethinking taxation, watch out Google Siri is coming, and income inequality in Canada.
Sachs and Ferguson square off. Sachs' key point is that the political process in the United States has ‘amplified’ the unequal outcomes that globalisation produces. Ferguson became disturbingly personal, guess Sachs hit a nerve. Thanks to David of Victoria.
Financial Times -- Why America is embracing protest
When the Tea Party erupted in the spring of 2009, both US political parties were quick to define it. Democrats depicted the anti-tax agitation as “AstroTurf” – faux populism staged by conservative millionaires.
Project Syndicate -- The Instability of Inequality
This year has witnessed a global wave of social and political turmoil and instability, with masses of people pouring into the real and virtual streets: the Arab Spring; riots in London; Israel’s middle-class protests against high housing prices and an inflationary squeeze on living standards; protesting Chilean students; the destruction in Germany of the expensive cars of “fat cats”; India’s movement against corruption; mounting unhappiness with corruption and inequality in China; and now the “Occupy Wall Street” movement in New York and across the United States.
Quote worth quoting.
“Any economic model that does not properly address inequality will eventually face a crisis of legitimacy. Unless the relative economic roles of the market and the state are rebalanced, the protests of 2011 will become more severe, with social and political instability eventually harming long-term economic growth and welfare.”
The 33 pound tumour. Thanks to Gordon of Victoria.
rsn -- Pull Your Money Out of Bank of America -- My good friend Nomi Prins has a great new piece out that I just caught on Zero Hedge, chronicling 10 reasons why depositors should pull out of Bank of America .
Not authentic, not interesting. Thanks to David M. from Victoria.
New York Times -- Why Our Candidates Disappoint Us
AS a psychotherapist for more than 25 years, I’ve never been fond of boilerplate formulations.
Quote worth quoting.
“THE ability to “read” the emotions of the electorate and to speak to those emotions in a compelling way do more for both electoral success and legislative success than I.Q. Similarly important is the ability to articulate a vision and a set of values, which is a far better predictor of voting behavior than positions on “the issues.”
Added Samara to our blog roll. Samara is an independent charitable organization that studies citizen engagement with Canadian democracy.
America thinks about taxation.
Forbes -- A Flat Tax Would Be Fine, A Consumption Tax True Perfection
The intensity of the ongoing Republican presidential debates has a very uplifting silver lining. Specifically, the competition ensures a much needed discussion of the proper mode of federal taxation.
In the ‘disruptive technology’ category, the importance of voice recognition technology, and Apple’s got it.
Forbes -- Why Siri Is a Google Killer
It’s now been a couple of weeks since Siri debuted as part of Apple’s (AAPL) 4S. The response from most people has been very positive.
Canada and income inequality.
Globe and Mail -- Why aren’t we talking about income inequality?
Equality is fitfully in the news. Demonstrators demand higher taxes on the “rich.”
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|0|| || ||||| | <urn:uuid:5df7a1ec-6565-46c2-b64e-1ed597919abe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.excellentfuture.ca/print/2900 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91604 | 814 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Students Sabrina Meyer and Max Wittkopp from the TFH architecture school in Berlin have designed an imaginary flagship shoe shop called Guerilla Boxing.
The concept is for modular box-like stores fitted with drawers to diplay and cover the shoes as required.
Here's some text from the students:
Guerilla Boxing is a design proposal for an invented flagship shoe store either in Berlin or for worldwide use.
Sabrina and Max suggest flexible modular boxes similar to an urban block grid as the shoes sold in their store are also for urban people. These boxes are composed of drawers which hide and at the same time literally uncover the shoes.
Through manipulating their surfaces within a rough concrete-like case the guerilla boxes play with the perception of volume, body, surface and skin - just the same as a shoe does with a foot. | <urn:uuid:835b7a61-2a7b-4af2-8436-283a35b86a48> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/14/guerilla-boxing-by-sabrina-meyer-and-max-wittkopp/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956974 | 173 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Actress Natalie Portman and animal expert Jack Hanna join forces on a special Animal Planet documentary “Saving a Species: Gorillas on the Brink.” The pair journey deep into Rwanda’s rainforest in search of the rare mountain gorilla. Hanna guides Natalie on her trek to learn more about this amazing endangered species around Congo’s Virunga National Park.
According to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, less than 700 of the species survive today and primarily in only two areas. In addition to naturally-occurring health problems, mountain gorillas suffer from human-induced injuries and illness associated with poaching, war, and habitat loss. The M.G.V.P does its work in the gorilla’s natural habitat in Africa, but it is affiliated with the Maryland zoo. “Our mission statement is to go in and help the gorillas’ health when it is man-induced or a life-threatening situation,” said Mike Cranfield, director of the project. | <urn:uuid:7597c131-b488-4803-baa9-8fcc86df937d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ecorazzi.com/?p=4205 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.919652 | 207 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Individuals with high cholesterol receive higher marks on tests measuring mental ability. Researchers based this finding on the medical histories of 789 men and 1105 women over 18 years. The information came from the Framingham Heart Study. During the study, the participants were administered tests to evaluate mental skills such as memory, concentration, abstract reasoning, and organization. Almost none of the participants were taking cholesterol medications, and the researchers do not know whether individuals who take medication to lower their levels would have poorer skills.
The investigators found that individuals with total cholesterol levels that were borderline-high or >200 scored better. They voiced concern, however, that individuals might ignore high cholesterol or stop taking their medication because of the results. (The findings were reported recently in Psychosomatic Medicine.) | <urn:uuid:62331b78-bafd-45dc-8348-3ad78c75609c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2005/2005-05/2005-05-9550 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966091 | 154 | 2.84375 | 3 |
parliament has passed a new internet blacklist law that has internet and civil rights groups in the country barking mad.
The powers that be argue that the new law should “protect children from information harmful to their health and development,” like recepies for homebrew Krokodil and questions about democracy.
However, critics argue that the new law will force internet providers to buy millions of dollars of additional gear needed for filtering. Many fear that, once in place, the equipment could be used to limit access to parts of the internet. There are economic concerns as well. Russia’s booming internet market created by droves of talented developers could be affected.
Filtration will be done at the discretion of a court and some activists fear that the courts could render verdicts based on politics, which is a still a worryingly common occurrence in Eastern Europe.
Wikipedia shut down its Russian site in protest of the law and Russia’s leading search engine Yandex also staged a protest.
The Duma has already passed a series of bills aimed at opposition groups and the country’s opposition movement. Last month a new law increased fines for protest violation and under a draft law aimed at the press, libel would be made a criminal offense. | <urn:uuid:8d9ff89c-92f8-4096-8b5d-db1bb22456e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/27901-duma-passes-controversial-internet-blacklist-law | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951453 | 255 | 1.945313 | 2 |
Alberta energy pipeline safety report to be released later this year
EDMONTON — Albertans will have to wait a little longer to hear about the safety of a labyrinth of oil and natural gas pipelines that criss-cross the province.
A technical review of the pipeline network was handed to Alberta Energy last month and is now being analyzed by the Energy Resources Conservation Board.
Alberta Energy spokesman Mike Deising said the board is to finish its work by March 31, and then the public will be asked to comment on the report later in the year.
“Pipelines really are a critical lifeline for the provincial economy so we need Albertans to feel confident that pipelines are the safest method to transport oil,” he said Tuesday.
Deising said the government hasn’t yet decided how it will consult with the public, or whether the process will include public meetings or hearings.
The government called for the review last summer following three pipeline spills, including a leak that polluted part of the pristine Red Deer River.
The Energy Resources Conservation Board then hired Group 10 Engineering Ltd. of Calgary to conduct the technical review.
Alberta has more than 400,000 kilometres of provincially regulated oil and natural gas pipelines, many of them up to 40 or 50 years old. | <urn:uuid:ce3be6da-8b6c-4ddf-a64e-ce877209830f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/provincial/Alberta_energy_pipeline_safety__report_to_be_released_later_this_year_186164361.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952733 | 263 | 2.25 | 2 |
During one of the presentations I attended at the recent ‘Make It Personal‘ conference at the University of Greenwich (looking at the use of social network in eLearning) we talked about the difference between the ‘digital natives’ and ‘digital immigrants’, and how they approached social network and eLearning in general.
I searched and found this excellent resource from Sharon Stoerger; ”The Digital melting-pot: Bridging the digital native-immigrant divide”
Much has been written about the two ‘types’ of learners, and I suggest you go read a few of the following if you want some more information on them;
- Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants
- Who are the digital natives? And what do they want?
- Strategies for Digital Natives
- Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants: Some Thoughts from the Generation Gap
What I like about the ‘melting-pot’ is the idea that this;
“new metaphor, the digital melting pot, supports the idea of integrating rather than segregating the natives and the immigrants. Instead of segregating individuals based on their skills or lack thereof, the digital melting pot is a place where all individuals, including those with low levels of competency, experience technology in a way that fosters opportunities without barriers. The melting pot also symbolizes the bridge between the two cultures that the digital native–digital immigrant dichotomy creates.”
I like the idea that we can prevent the ‘them-and-us’ mentality by not using the ‘digital native’ or ‘digital immigrant’ names; this prevents so much misconception that we might otherwise find ourselves a victim of based on someones age or demographic background.
“… the digital melting-pot metaphor redirects the attention away from the “assigned” generational characteristics. Instead, the focus of the melting pot is on the diverse set of technological capabilities individuals actually have, as well as the digital skills they might gain through experience.”
I, for one, am all for it. Anyone else?
PS. I’ve used the #mip Twitter hashtag as there was talk about the 2010 Conference being on the divide between the digital natives and immigrants. | <urn:uuid:5d3b6614-1b24-4864-91ee-e3f61079b938> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/elearning/digital-native-vs-digital-immigrant/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917305 | 467 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Papillomatosis in Psittacine Birds
By: Dr. Branson Ritchie
Read By: Pet Lovers
CBC and blood chemistry. Most birds with papillomatous lesions in the gastrointestinal tract do not have detectable changes in the complete blood count (CBC) or blood chemistry. However, the white blood cell count may be elevated in birds with internal lesions that are ulcerated and secondarily infected with bacteria or fungi.
A thorough physical examination with detailed observation of the oral and cloacal mucosa is the most likely way to detect suspicious lesions. The cloaca should be gently turned outward using a gloved finger, moistened cotton-tipped applicator or speculum to facilitate the examination. Papillomatosis should be suspected when cauliflower-like growths are visible.
Papillomatous changes may occur in the oral cavity or esophagus in birds that do or do not have detectable lesions in the cloaca. The fusing, raised bumps characteristic of papillomatosis can be red, pink or white and have a tendency to bleed if damaged. Coating the surface of any suspect lesion with 5 percent acetic acid solution will help identify papillomatous changes. The abnormal tissue will turn white, while the normal mucosa remains pink. Microscopic examination of tissue samples from suspect lesions is required to confirm a diagnosis.
Many internal lesions are not recognized until autopsy. Filling defects (indicating that a mass is present in the lumen of the alimentary tract) may be detected by contrast radiography (Barium series) performed on birds with suspicious clinical signs such as chronic regurgitation or weight loss.
Endoscopy is necessary to identify and obtain diagnostic biopsies of suspect papillomatous lesions in the esophagus, proventriculus or high in the cloaca. A liver biopsy may be helpful in confirming cancerous changes in birds that have a history of cloacal papillomatosis and clinical changes suggestive of liver disease.
Other tests include:
Viral testing. Testing for antibodies to Pacheco's disease virus or using viral specific DNA probes to determine if a bird is shedding pieces of genetic material (DNA) from this virus may be helpful.
Currently, there is no test that can be used to confirm that a bird does not have papillomatosis.
Generally, papillomatous lesions that are not causing specific problems can remain untreated. Untreated birds should be carefully and frequently monitored for changes that would suggest more aggressive treatment is necessary. Oral papillomas are frequently localized, easy to remove and may not reoccur after removal. In contrast, cloacal papillomas are typically diffuse, difficult to remove completely and frequently reoccur after treatment. Attempted removal may involve various surgical techniques (lasers, radiosurgery and ligation) or chemical cautery.
When any technique is used to remove growths mechanically from the cloaca, care should be exercised to prevent excessive tissue damage that may result in severe scarring and reduction in the size of the cloacal lumen. Scarring can result in incontinence, reproductive failure or blockage of the ureters or colon. None of the proposed therapies is consistently effective in all cases, and papillomatous lesions often recur following what may appear to be a successful treatment regime.
Malnutrition and vitamin A deficiencies have been suggested to potentiate papillomatosis. If true, then providing supplemental vitamin A would be indicated.
Optimal treatment for your companion bird requires a combination of home and professional veterinary care. Follow-up can be critical, especially if your bird does not rapidly improve.
Make certain you administer all prescribed medications at the appropriate time intervals. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you are having difficulties treating your bird as prescribed. If you are having problems, it may be best to hospitalize your bird to assure that a proper course of treatment is administered.
Any bird suspected of having papillomatosis, that has been exposed to birds with papillomatosis or that is being treated for papillomatosis should be isolated from other birds to prevent transmission. The common practice of placing a hospital or "sick" room in the same building or airspace with a psittacine nursery is contrary to good medical practices.
If this disease is caused by a virus, which is likely, then with most viruses organic debris such as blood, soil, nesting material or feces would be expected to protect the causative agent from disinfectants that do not contain detergents.
Caretakers should always wear a dust mask when handling the waste of birds. To reduce dust, use a misting bottle filled with disinfectant to moisten excrement and feather debris before handling. | <urn:uuid:c10fb98d-b566-404b-8791-426f8565ce52> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.petplace.com/birds/papillomatosis-in-psittacine-birds/page3.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912613 | 991 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Half Moon Bay fruit-juice maker Odwalla Inc. has reached a settlement — reportedly for $12 million to $15 million — with the families of five young victims of a 1996 food-poisoning outbreak caused by a tainted batch of the company’s apple juice.
The hefty settlement brings closer to an end a painful saga for the company and victims’ families, which began when Washington health authorities announced the outbreak at Halloween a year and a half ago. The company now has settled 17 lawsuits, with three remaining.
“It’s behind us now and we will move on,” said Terry Beverly of Seattle, a Microsoft engineer whose son, now 4, hovered near death after being stricken with an advanced stage of poisoning caused by a deadly microbe known as E. coli O157:H7.
“We’re very pleased to be able to fully compensate these children and to move forward with the families and with the lawyers to address the bigger issues of food-safety awareness,” said Chris Gallagher, a company official.
The settlement calls for an undisclosed amount of money to be placed in trust for the victims, five children who became seriously ill after drinking the tainted apple juice in Washington and Colorado. The youngsters have since resumed normal lives but will need to be monitored for years for potential long-term consequences.
The New York Times said the company agreed to pay $12 million to $15 million to the families. Odwalla and the families’ attorney said the terms of the settlement were confidential.
William Marler, the Seattle attorney who represented the five families, said the amounts of the settlements “will be substantial enough to fully compensate the children and their families for what they went through and may encounter in the future.”
The lawsuits were filed by the families of Michael Beverly, 4, Katherine Wright, 4, and Brooke Hiatt of Seattle; Brian Dimock, 7, of Washington, D.C., and Amanda Berman, 5, of Chicago. The families reached the settlement in talks with Odwalla Chairman Greg Steltenpohl and chief executive officer Stephen Williamson, and Odwalla’s insurance firm.
“You know, it was tough for Odwalla to face all of us,” said Richard Dimock, father of a victim. “We got to talk across the table from them. . . . It was an emotional two days for everybody.”
The outbreak was caused by a highly toxic microorganism, E. coli, which tainted a batch of apple juice bottled at Odwalla’s processing plant in Dinuba. Seventy people were sickened by the juice and a 16-month old Colorado girl died. The poisoning was a shock to the young, fast-growing company, which promoted its unpasteurized juices as nutritious health foods. The company now pasteurizes its apple juice.
A federal grand jury in Fresno is investigating the outbreak, examining several issues, among them whether the company properly reported its own tests which found another bacteria — Listeria monocytogenes — in samples of its juices in early 1996.
E. coli poisoning, which has been a growing problem worldwide for the past few years, can have devastating consequences for the very young, the elderly and the immune-suppressed, such as AIDS victims. Four of the five children suffered the most acute phase, hemolytic uremic syndrome, in which the kidneys shut down.
Parent Beverly said his son “was nearly dead” after drinking the tainted juice and suffering the horrific illness that E. coli causes in some youngsters.
“The doctors weren’t sure he was going to pull through. It was up to his little body. . . . He had heart murmurs, lung (problems), his kidney shut down. I was really scared. One night the doctor came up and told us he might die tonight. I broke down in tears. . . . You can have all the money in the world, but with a sick 2-year-old, you have to have faith in God. You’re totally helpless and at the mercy of this disease and it’s up to his little body to get him through it.”
Beverly said that during the mediation, he met with Steltenpohl and Williamson and was convinced of their sincerity. “They said they were very sorry. I know they were sincere about this. They have kids too.”
Williamson, Odwalla’s CEO, said “our sympathy will forever be extended to the individuals and families who were affected by this.”
After the 1996 recall of its apple juice, the company implemented a juice-safety program that meets and exceeds current Federal Drug Administration proposed fresh-juice requirements. | <urn:uuid:1d7de493-43fc-4cb6-865e-11b6932ba86c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marlerblog.com/legal-cases/odwalla-settles-5-juice-lawsuits-sincere-talks-impress-poisoned-survivors-dad/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97905 | 998 | 1.59375 | 2 |
By Julie Steenhuysen
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chelsea Clinton is taking on the discomforting issue of diarrhea, throwing her family's philanthropic heft behind a sweeping effort in Nigeria to prevent the deaths of 1 million mothers and children each year from preventable causes, including 100,000 deaths from diarrhea.
The 32-year-old daughter of President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Nigerian officials, the prime minister of Norway and other leaders on Tuesday in promoting expanded access to zinc and oral rehydration solutions or ORS, a treatment that could prevent more than 90 percent of diarrhea-related deaths in the country.
"It is unconscionable that in the 21st century, children still die of diarrhea," Clinton told Reuters in an exclusive interview by phone from Abuja, Nigeria.
The ORS and zinc work in Nigeria is in coordination with the Clinton Health Access Initiative or CHAI, on whose board Clinton serves. She has stepped up her public role in the family's global philanthropic efforts and in July took a six-day tour of Africa with her father, who founded the William J. Clinton Foundation in 2001.
The goal of the initiative in Nigeria is to help drive down the cost of high-quality ORS and zinc treatments and increase awareness for them, said Clinton, currently a doctoral candidate in international relations at the University of Oxford.
Currently, fewer than 2 percent of children in Nigeria have access to the World Health Organization-recommended treatment. Increasing the number of children with access to the therapy to 80 percent by 2015 would help prevent an estimated 220,000 deaths in Nigeria.
"I would like to see us make real, measurable progress here in Nigeria and in the other countries where we are working on ORS zinc," said Clinton, including Uganda and parts of India, as part of the Clinton Health Access Initiative's new push to improve access to essential medicines for children.
"For me, it's not complicated. We know what works and we should be doing more of it. And when we don't know what works, we should be innovating and spending time and energy on designing these solutions to solve problems that haven't been solved yet," said Clinton.
"That is what I love about the work CHAI does and the work of the foundation more broadly," she said.
BRINGING COMPANIES ON BOARD
As part of its push, CHAI is meeting with companies like Unilever, which has big distribution networks in Nigeria, to get the message out on ORS zinc, Clinton said.
The hope is to increase demand for the treatment and drive down costs, which should put the price of a single dose of the treatment at about $0.50.
CHAI began working in Nigeria in 2007 with efforts in the Niger Delta to bolster the region's HIV/AIDS infrastructure, which has helped increase pediatric HIV testing by 350 percent, and resulted in a 70 percent increase in pediatric access to powerful antiretroviral drugs.
Clinton conceded that diarrhea treatment is something many people would rather not talk about.
"It makes them feel squeamish," she said, adding, "It's important that we shine a light on these problems and then get to the business of solving them."
Clinton said it's hard to know just how much of her interest in charitable work has been influenced by the careers of her powerful parents, but in a way, it doesn't much matter.
"I couldn't imagine not doing work like this," she said. I define success in my life by how much of a difference have I made in a given day, whether that is being a good wife to my husband, a good daughter to my parents, a good friend to my friends, or helping push forward our work at CHAI or the Alliance for a Healthier Generation or any other facet of the foundation."
"I couldn't imagine it any other way, and I don't want to."
(Editing by Mary Milliken and Todd Eastham)
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp | <urn:uuid:0f60e3a3-6abf-4fab-929a-b8ef5dc98fcb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kgmi.com/Exclusive-Chelsea-Clinton-steps-up-to-fight-diarrh/11461924?newsId=171875 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967951 | 853 | 1.828125 | 2 |
On Nov. 23, almost two weeks before the First Family lights the National Christmas Tree, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo will brighten the metro area with ZooLights, the popular annual DC event.
Thousands of environmentally friendly LED lights – in the shapes of pandas, snakes, flowers, trees, butterflies, elephants and more – lining the pathways and decorating buildings such as the Small Mammals House, Reptile Discovery Center, Great Apes House, Think Tank and Kids’ Farm – make for a unique and fun experience for the whole family.
Also on display will be entries to the zoo’s “Gin-GRR-Bread Habitat Contest,” with a theme of “A Winter’s Tale on the American Trail. Winners will receive a special behind-the-scenes tour of the American Trail for 10 people. Registration for the contest is open until November 17. Visit the zoo’s website for more information.
ZooLights run for a total of 24 days this year, making it the longest ZooLights in history - November 23, 24 and 30 through December 2, December 7-9, and then daily from December 14 – January 1 (except for December 24, 25 and 31) from 5:00-9:00 p.m.
There is no fee to attend ZooLights, but parking is $9 for FONZ members and $16 for non-members. All proceeds from parking and concessions sold during ZooLights will benefit animal care and conservation. | <urn:uuid:61d787e9-0de2-4d99-b7b0-e7c878587355> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kensington.patch.com/articles/national-zoo-kicks-off-longest-ever-run-of-zoolights-on-november-23?logout=true | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928627 | 318 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Nyima originally from in Yul-Nga Village, Tsang Shar Township, Phenpo
County, Tibetan Autonomous Region “TAR” is a nun at Phenpo Podo
Nunnery. After completing five years of imprisonment in Drapchi Prison
she was released in March 1999. She spent the following three years attempting
to recover from the inhuman torture and maltreatment that she
had undergone. She was hospitalized for many months until the medical
costs became too high for her family to bear, and she had to recover at
For Nyima and her friends, life outside the prison for political prisoners
was too onerous to tolerate as they were under constant surveillance of the
public security bureau . In addition to their own suffering, all of
their friends and relatives became targets for scrutiny and intimidation.
With no other choice, on 9 March 2004 Nyima began her harrowing journey
into exile leaving friends and family behind. Nyima joined a small
group of fellow Tibetans and trekked over the Himalayas to Nepal, moving
only at night so as not to be seen by chinese forces. The journey took
nearly one month. On 20 April 2004 Nyima reached Dharamsala the seat
of exile Tibetan government.
Nyima testified to TCHRD on numerous torture and inhuman treatment
she and her friends had suffered while in the detention center and in prison.
Following is the short transcript of her testimony:
“In September 1993, my friends and I were expelled from the nunnery
following local authorities’ directive that bans all nuns under the age of
18 from staying and studying at the nunnery. In order to voice our opinion,
I along with two of my friends decided to undertake an activity that
is to change the course of our lives forever. On 19 March 1994 we clandestinely
left for Lhasa to protest against religious oppression. Upon arriving
in Lhasa on the morning of 21 March, we headed to busy Barkhor
market and shouted slogans for fifteen minutes before four officers shoved
leather gloves into our mouths and immediately arrested us. We were first
detained in the police station, and then forced into a van that transported
us to Gutsa Detention Center. On the way to Gutsa we were
In order to gain information about any outside instigators involved in
our actions, the officials attempted to force me to confess to my crime and
to accept the ‘mistakes’ I had committed. During each interrogation session,
I refused to answer their questions and would not admit to having
committed a crime. It was my belief that the chinese had committed the
crime and had infringed upon my individual human rights. I was not
going to admit to anything, even at the cost of my life. If I did so, they
would have won. For this, I underwent extensive torture.
Each day of interrogation the same questions were asked over and over
again, and each day I refused to comply. chinese officials used whatever
tools were available to them- usually chairs, belts, boots and fists. As the
interrogation sessions continued, the torture became worse. I was repeatedly
burned with lit cigarettes, had boiling water poured over my body,
and my mouth prodded with wooden sticks. I still refused to confess to
having committed any crime. After six months of daily interrogation and
torture, I was formally charged and convicted. I never received access to
legal representation and a trial of any kind. For my ‘crime,’ I received a
five-year prison sentence with three years deprivation of political rights.
My friends and I continued to be detained at Gutsa Detention Center
for one year and five months. In August 1995, we were transferred to
Drapchi Prison. On reaching Drapchi Prison, we were made to study
prison rules and regulation. After a week, I was supposed to have memorized
the entire text to recite before prison officials.
I did not read nor memorized the text, for I knew that I had not committed
any crime. As a result, I was forced to stand outside and stare at the
sun for hours on end without moving. Often, guards placed a water bowl
on my head and newspapers between my knees and under my arms to
make sure that I did not move. If any of the objects fell to the ground, I
was beaten. Staring at the sun for prolonged hours causes one to get dizzy,
vomit and to lose consciousness. Each time this happened I would be
beaten. This form of torture continued for two months.
Following two months of staring at the sun, I and 63 other prisoners were
forced to learn military exercises and drills, where we often had to march
in perfect unison in a half-starved state. Each time someone did not
complete the drill perfectly, the individual was beaten. This continued
for four months.
I once again refused to learn self-incriminating phrases that I accept my
mistakes and would work to reform my mind. Instead I repeated human
rights and pro-independence slogans. For this act of total defiance, all
visiting privileges from my family were cut off, and four guards systematically
beat me. The guards referred to the session as ‘playing soccer,’ and
I was the soccer ball. The guards stood in a square formation and she had
to walk up to each guard so they could kick her to the ground.
A particular brutal torture tactic I underwent was when I and several
other prisoners were forced to stand barefoot on ice for an entire day
After several hours of excruciating pain, our bodies went completely numb.
During this time a female prison guard came in wearing
high heels and proceeded to stomp on the frozen feet of each woman.
In the late afternoon we were forced to pull our feet off the ice, ripping the
soles from our feet and leaving the ice soaked in blood. We were then
made stand in the sun, causing our nerves to thaw and subjecting our
bodies once again to extreme pain.
On the third day of Tibetan New Year in 1997, the two cellblocks of
female prisoners consisting of both criminal and political were brought
into the courtyard of Drapchi Prison to sing songs in praise of Mao Zedong
and the communist party. As one female criminal inmate began to sing
the song, Jamdron and I stood up and began singing a song in praise of
the Dalai Lama and a free Tibet. The Prison guards immediately grabbed
us and dragged us into the closest office.
We continued to sing defiantly until we were beaten into submission.
At that time, all of the political prisoners in the courtyard refused to
stand until we were released. Unfortunately,a unit of officers
immediately arrived to quell the women’s protest in the courtyard.
We were then hit with an electric baton and rendered unconscious.
We awoke when the guards splashed water on our faces, only to
beat us again.
This incident landed us in solitary confinement for over one year. We
were kept in a small, dark cell and fed one dumpling and a bowl of water
each day, and given no clothing or blankets to shield from the incredibly
cold Tibetan winter.
After one year of solitary confinement, I was moved into a cell with
Jamdron for eight more months. We could not recognize each other at
first sight as we had both terribly emaciated during our confinement.
After eight months we were returned to cells with the rest of the political
prisoners. Three months later in March 1999, after five years of imprisonment,
I was released from Drapchi Prison.” | <urn:uuid:bf460410-7c75-47f7-bc5f-af27b1bf8af9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=679&p=8818 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977848 | 1,627 | 1.96875 | 2 |
A piece I wrote a bit ago and had been holding back on posting just went up on HuffPost…. as if I hadn’t caused enough of a stir already today! Yikes, here we go…. I’m off to bed! Any posts I put up next month will be about positive things (I really will try!). http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniela-papi/ngego-the-waste-we-cause_b_3188945.html
Posts categorized under Responsible Giving
I was lucky to be invited to do a BBC Four Thought Talk which was recorded a few weeks ago and will air tonight (8:45pm UK Time). The first draft of the talk was about 9000 words, which I cut down to a 3000 word radio talk, and then was boiled down to a 1000 [...]
I just posted a new piece on Huffington Post Impact about the orphanage tourism issue in Cambodia. Check it out below: Why You Should Say No to Orphanage Tourism (And Tell All Tour Companies to Do the Same) The piece relates to a new website released by Siem Reap residents who are upset at the [...]
Deciding what not to do is sometimes harder than deciding what to do, when you see many great possibilities for the future. I am surely having this problem with regards to post-gradschool life. And at PEPY, we reached many points where deciding how to move forward meant deciding which ideas NOT to do. Here is [...]
The PEPY Tours team put together a short animated video about the history of PEPY Tours and the ways our work has changed over the years. Check it out! Video by the @PEPYTours team with illustrations by the fabulous Wei Peng!
Walking through the Skoll World Forum last week was like watching the ingredients to make a cake get mixed in a bowl. Each had been hand picked and was being mixed together to make something no one part could create on its own. The man mixing the pot is Jeff Skoll, a founder at Ebay [...]
“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it,” says Simon Sinek in his very popular TEDx talk. And he’s right. People buy thy WHY. The thing is… this is a big problem in development work! People buy the WHY – which means they are fueling good intentions, not necessarily good impacts. [...] | <urn:uuid:e43e8ebb-81e0-448a-a380-f04351d57731> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lessonsilearned.org/category/responsible-giving/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96883 | 508 | 1.53125 | 2 |
It's official! Women ogle more than men
It's not men who spend their time secretly ogling women - it's women, a new study has revealed.
Bristol University researchers found that it is the fairer sex that gives their rivals' bodies a good visual once-over, rather than their supposedly Neanderthal partners, the Telegraph reported.
Men are more likely to concentrate on a potential mate's face.
The academics came to their conclusions after asking volunteers to examine a range of different images, including stills from nature documentaries, classical and surrealist paintings, and freeze-frames of couples in films.
The last category included one of the final scenes from 'Love Actually,' starring Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon, where the pair appear on a school stage together. Grant plays a fictional prime minister who becomes besotted with a maid at Number 10, and the couple end up kissing on stage at the end of a nativity play.
Another scene was from the 1961 classic 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' in which Audrey Hepburn's tightly-wound character Holly Golightly tussles over a table lamp with her tenant Paul Varjak, played by George Peppard.
The researchers found that women weren't interested in looking at Grant or Peppard: it was McCutcheon and Hepburn they focused on.
They spent 61 percent of their time looking at the women in the pictures, and only 39 percent on the men.
When they looked at the women their eyes tended to roam around the whole figure, while men concentrated on the face.
Felix Mercer Mos, a computer science PhD student, who led the study, said: "This is counter-intuitive from a sexual perspective if you are thinking about desire, but it's not surprising if you look at it in terms of sexual competition."
"The women might be checking out their sexual rivals, and comparing themselves with them.
"That's speculation of course - I've no proof whatsoever," he said.
Men did prefer looking at the women - but only just - by a margin of 53 to 47 percent.
The researchers also found that women tended to avoid looking directly at the eyes of people in the pictures, male or female, directing their gaze just below, to the nose or mouth, when looking at the face.
Men had no such qualms, looking at Grant, Peppard, McCutcheon and Hepburn straight in the eye.
This could have been because women were "more sensitive to the negative consequences of making direct eye contact", the Bristol team said.
The study is published in the journal PLoS ONE. | <urn:uuid:a6786758-31e2-4eec-b9b6-6a930242dc4e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newkerala.com/news/newsplus/worldnews-111201.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96398 | 540 | 2.21875 | 2 |
Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
Interview - Emma Alberici - ABC Lateline - Super Trawler, MRRT
12 February 2013
Environment Minister Tony Burke has rejected a compromise proposal for the Dutch-owned super trawler, now called Abel Tasman, to operate as a 'mother ship' but not put out its own nets. The Minister has decided to go through the process of banning the super trawler from operating in Australian waters.
EMMA ALBERICI: We are joined now in our Canberra studio by Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke.
Mr Burke, I understand you have an announcement to make on the super trawler. Tell us what that's about.
TONY BURKE: The super trawler came back with what they regarded as a compromise proposal, which was that the trawler wouldn't put out its own net and it would operate essentially as a giant refrigerator in the ocean and smaller trawlers would go off and come back to it as some sort of mothership arrangement.
I asked my department for advice on first, was it a new fishing activity, and secondly, environmentally, did it raise - even though it was a very different method - did it raise the same sorts of problems as last time?
I have now gone through that departmental advice in the last couple of hours and have determined that, yes, it's a new fishing activity, and yes, a whole - even though it looks like a compromise on the face of it - a whole lot of the environmental problems that we had last time are replicated again under this so-called compromise model.
So I have initiated the process tonight to go through the different methods of consultation that have to happen before I can go ahead with a fresh ban on the new proposal for the super trawler.
EMMA ALBERICI: So are you saying that you are going to ban it outright?
TONY BURKE: I've started the first stage of that tonight. There are about three steps I have to go to.
First is to get agreement from the Minister for Fisheries, second is to give them a six-month notice period - a 60 day notice period where the company gets a natural justice opportunity to respond and then at the end of that the option is there for a further two-year ban on the additional proposal that they have had.
But effectively, even though it sounds like, oh, they're not putting the net out, maybe there's not a problem, for the advice that came back for seals and dolphins and localised depletion, the problems that arise are exactly the same. For sea birds, the problems that arise are potentially worse.
So, while on the face of it it might not make for as bad images when they are not throwing that giant net out, my concern is does the environment benefit from that sort of compromise?, and all the advice I've had now says no.
EMMA ALBERICI: And are you concerned about a potential legal action from the Dutch company that owns the super trawler because they have certainly threatened that in the past?
TONY BURKE: They threatened that in the past. They have told me directly that they may well go down that pathway. From my perspective, this government has taken a highly cautious view when it comes to the ocean. We are very committed to making sure we have proper protections and safeguards in for the ocean. And as long as there is a significant environmental risk and the scientific work hasn't been done, I'm not going to have a view that says we will just go out, let them fish and see where it lands.
EMMA ALBERICI: If I can just move on to the issue that's dominated Canberra today and that is the mining tax, particularly the design of the tax, was your government, in your view, too generous in the tax deductions it offered the miners to get a deal done?
TONY BURKE: I think at the core of what's happened with reduction in revenue is the reduction that's happened in commodity prices.
EMMA ALBERICI: But hold on a minute, if I can just hold you up on that particular point because it's been raised a couple of times, but the fact of the matter is when you're talking about iron ore, for instance, prices are up some 80 per cent since the floor was reached in September last year. They're back to US$150 or thereabouts a tonne. So, that issue alone clearly isn't to blame here.
TONY BURKE: Well I don't think today's value on the iron ore price would be reflected in the taxation revenue that's been published so far. There's always a lag on the revenue figures. I don't have the precise dates as to what the first six months refers to, but today's price would be incidental to that and long after it. From the end of 2011 to 2012 …
EMMA ALBERICI: But - so are you saying the structure of the tax has nothing to do with the lost revenue?
TONY BURKE: No, the structure of the tax is meant to be a super profits tax. Now when commodity prices come down, you don't get the same super profits. When commodity prices ...
EMMA ALBERICI: But my direct question was about the tax deductions offered to the miners. I asked you did you think they were too generous in hindsight?
TONY BURKE: And on the – as you have played in the intro to this, we've got no plans for changing that. The issue of deductions …
EMMA ALBERICI: But you're not answering my question.
TONY BURKE: I was about to at that point. The deductions for the miners is something where we took the view that it was the right policy call. That that was a genuine investment that they were making at the time and therefore it'd be offset against the tax. There was a good policy reason for us reaching that conclusion.
EMMA ALBERICI: The design of this tax, of course, helped destroy Kevin Rudd's leadership. Today Mr Rudd made the point, and I quote him, "No government should ever take a backwards step in pursuit of the national interest." In your view, did the Government take a backwards step in its negotiations with the miners?
TONY BURKE: No, I don't believe we did, I don't believe we did. And if there's any view that somehow we've been scared to have arguments with the miners, then we're forgetting the last two years of history with the discussions on the carbon price. So, we've been quite willing to stand up for the national interest and be able to have those arguments when we think it's right.
When you make a policy call on what's a genuine tax deduction, the policy call we made we believe had good policy foundations.
EMMA ALBERICI: Do you still think it does?
TONY BURKE: Yes, I do.
EMMA ALBERICI: Do you welcome Mr Rudd's contribution to this debate?
TONY BURKE: Yes, I have been asked about this a few times and my view is he's not just any old member of Parliament, he is a former prime minister, he's going to have views in the public debate and what he has been saying and the comments he has been making have been, you know, quite consistent with Government policy.
I know that there will always be a microscope put over every syllable that he puts forward, but for the life of me, I can't see why there's a problem with him going out and advocating on these sorts of issues.
EMMA ALBERICI: Alright, we have to leave it there. Thank you so much for coming in for us.
TONY BURKE: Good to be with you. | <urn:uuid:469839d3-ed98-4f1d-ad0d-fea3907a9a91> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://environment.gov.au/minister/burke/2013/tr20130212a.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00043-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981971 | 1,630 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Bond guru and Pimco (PTTRX) managing director Bill Gross isn't buying into the bull market. In fact, he's warning investors to be afraid, be very afraid, of how inflation and the flood of cheap money will affect all investments.
Investors should be prepared to accept "lower returns on bonds, stocks, real estate and derivative strategies," Gross wrote in his monthly letter entitled "Credit Supernova!"
Go outside of the U.S., he says. Buy currencies from countries "with less hyberbolic credit systems" including Australia, Brazil, Mexico or Canada. The U.S. won't fit that bill.
He doesn't suggest totally eschewing stocks, but says investors should look to global stocks with stable cash flows.
Gross has been warning investors about the potential downsides of the Federal Reserve's bond buying strategy for months, but the tone of this month's letter was decidedly more fearful.
While the letter's title obliquely references the band Oasis, Gross opted to lead his monthly missive with an ominous T.S. Eliot quote rather than his usual song lyric: "This is the way the world ends... Not with a bang but a whimper."
The world Gross refers to is the monetary system. "Today's near zero bound interest rates cripple savers and business models previously constructed on the basis of positive real yields," Gross writes.
Gross admits that "the end of the global monetary system is not nigh," but says we're approaching a time where "investable assets pose too much risk for too little return."
What else should an investor do to prepare for what Gross sees as something of a financial Armageddon? He says one of his investment committee members wants to buy land in New Zealand and set sail. Land has an inherent value, suggests Gross, unlike other so-called investable assets.
Zillow's stock fell sharply Tuesday following the disclosure of previous correspondence between the company and the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding questions about the company's sales.
Shares of Zillow (Z), the real estate website, dropped as much as 10.2% in early trading, the biggest one-day decline since November, before trimming some of the losses. By the afternoon, Zillow was down about 4%.
The stock first began to fall after some written exchanges from August MOREHibah Yousuf - Oct 2, 2012 1:51 PM ET
Real estate search firm Trulia (TRLA) kicked off life as a public company with a bang.
Trulia's stock opened 30% above its IPO price when it started trading on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday morning. It quickly gained momentum, rising as high as $25 (47% above the IPO price).
Late Wednesday, Trulia's underwriters, J.P. Morgan (JPM) and Deutsche Bank (DB), sold 6 million shares at $17 apiece -- above the MOREMaureen Farrell - Sep 20, 2012 11:12 AM ET
Shares of homebuilders rallied Wednesday after Toll Brothers reported strong quarterly results and an industry group said home sales rose in July.
The nation's leading luxury homebuilder reported a 46% jump in net income to $61.6 million in the quarter ended July 31. Toll Brothers also said new contracts rose 57%, and its contract backlog grew 44% during the quarter.
Toll Brothers (TOL) stock gained nearly 4% Wednesday. Shares of Hovnanian (HOV), MOREBen Rooney - Aug 22, 2012 1:55 PM ET
Trulia Inc., the company behind real estate website Trulia.com, filed for an initial public offering that is expected to raise as much as $75 million, though the company did not specify how many shares it plans to sell or how they will be priced.
Earlier in the summer, Trulia filed for a so-called confidential IPO thanks to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups, or JOBS Act, which was signed into law in April.
The law allows "emerging MOREHibah Yousuf - Aug 17, 2012 10:39 AM ET
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|Tesla repays federal loan nearly 10 years early|
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|Stocks slip as Fed sends mixed message|
|Insanely durable smartphone ... from Caterpillar?| | <urn:uuid:3f5eb920-3912-405b-9925-1afe8287f743> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://buzz.money.cnn.com/tag/real-estate/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956869 | 918 | 1.507813 | 2 |
It's estimated that livestock including pigs, cows and chickens produce more than three million tonnes of manure each year.
This virtual mountain of manure is a significant contributor to Australia's carbon footprint, emitting greenhouse gas in the form of methane and to a lesser extent nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide.
In all livestock industries manure is considered a valuable fertiliser. In dairies and piggeries manure is typically captured in effluent ponds and applied to pasture, while in poultry and egg farms chook poo lands on the floor of sheds among the litter and is scooped up. In grassfed beef production, manure stays in the paddock.
Scientists believe that if they can change the formulation of manure by adding or altering chemical components, they can reduce greenhouse emissions.
They are also looking at how to achieve maximum improvement in soil health from manure application, thereby raising the level of carbon in the soil and reducing Australia's overall carbon footprint.
Researchers are also working to maximise existing technology used in intensive livestock farming where manure is captured in a covered effluent pond, and methane emissions are piped out to generate electricity.
Piggery owner Edwina Beveridge is using this technology on her piggery at Young in southern New South Wales, and is generating enough electricity from methane to supply all her farm's needs and feed surplus into the electricity grid.
The first big challenge for livestock industries is to measure the greenhouse emissions from manure. The University of Wollongong is leading research into this area using infrared technology to measure airborne gas.
The National Agriculture Manure Management Program, was developed by the intensive livestock rural Research and Development Corporations.
These include Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Egg Corporation, Chicken Meat Council, and Dairy Australia.
The research effort is funded under the Australian Government's Carbon Farming Futures program, 'Filling the Research Gap'.
Janine Price, co-ordinator of research into the use of manure in livestock industries; Edwina Beveridge, owner of a pig farm near Young, NSW which is turning manure into clean energy. | <urn:uuid:d133231f-2c38-4946-8ccb-8dcd8186f274> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2012/s3593352.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93676 | 423 | 3.53125 | 4 |
A digest of important news from sources selected by our local editors. Delivered weekday mornings.
The White House budget office on Thursday reported the federal government had reduced contract spending by 4 percent in the past fiscal year, an accomplishment that it said was the largest drop for a single cycle on record.
The Washington Post reported that the Obama administration said it cut contract spending by more than $20 billion during fiscal 2012, largely by increasing coordination between agencies — buying together instead of independently.
Contracts accounted for about 14 percent of all federal government spending during the past cycle, representing the lowest level since 2003.
Federal spending is a major part of the economy in New Mexico. The federal government spent $28 billion in New Mexico in FY10, about a third of the state’s GDP, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Speaking before the New Century Economy Summit in Albuquerque in October, Gov. Susana Martinez said the state must quickly wean itself from federal spending.
According to a recent story in the Albuquerque Journal, 10.6 percent of the nation’s non-farm workers are employed by the federal government, 13.2 percent of New Mexico’s non-farm workforce is employed by the federal government.
Federal contract spending for fiscal 2012 was 6 percent below the fiscal 2009 level, representing a rare drop between the start and the end of a presidential term.
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The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of American City Business Journals. | <urn:uuid:4b03579b-fe38-4123-83a5-fb290c402404> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2012/12/06/federal-contract-spending-down-by-4.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942496 | 367 | 1.765625 | 2 |
In its 2006 report, "The Vital Center," the Brookings Institution in Washington contributed mightily to the discussion on what ails the Midwest as a region. Now a major new Brookings report, "The State of Metropolitan America" seems to call that regional concept into question.
This new report is must reading for anyone concerned about American cities, Midwestern and otherwise. One of its conclusions is that a few Midwestern cities are economic oases, doing relatively well despite overall regional decline. But a close study shows that Midwestern cities and their problems remain unique, alas, and the regional approach still holds.
(For a different take on this, see a typically intelligent and provocative posting by Aaron Renn on www.urbanophile.com. Renn stresses the differences between cities that all carry the "Rust Belt" label: he's right, of course, even though stressing the differences can defeat a serious attempt at a regional policy.)
The Brookings report, which it bills as a preview of the 2010 census, focuses on demographic forces and changes in 100 American metropolitan areas -- cities and their suburbs. It then breaks these demographic factors down into five "new realities:"
- Growth and outward expansion. Is your city growing, and is sprawling?
- Diversity, especially ethnic diversity. Is your city drawing immigrants?
- Aging. Is your city mostly old or mostly young, or a mix?
- Different educational levels. Does your city have lots of college grads, or lots of dropouts?
- Income polarization. Is your city middle-class, or is there a growing gap between rich and poor?
There's a mass of data here, but Brookings sorts out the numbers to come up with seven different types of cities, based on three of those five "realities" -- population growth, educational attainment and diversity. This is the core of the report, the part that will pit regionalists vs. non-regionalists.
Here are the seven "typologies," ranked from top to bottom in order of desirability:
- Next Frontier. These nine booming metro areas rank above the national average in growth, diversity, and educational attainment.
- New Heartland: These 19 metros, mostly service-based, are fast-growing, have high educational attainment, but aren't drawing many immigrants.
- Diverse Giant: These nine metros are mostly big cities, like Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. They have high diversity and educational achievement but growth below the national average.
- Border Growth: These are 11 metros, along the nation's fringes, destinations for immigrants. They show high growth and diversity but lower levels of education.
- Mid-Sized Magnet: These 15 places are less populous and generally older. They mix high growth with low diversity and educational attainment.
- Skilled Anchors: These 19 metros are mostly old manufacturing cities or ports that are becoming service based. These show low growth and diversity but relatively high educational levels.
- Industrial Cores: Where you don't want to be. These are 18 struggling old industrial metros with low everything -- low growth, low diversity, low educational attainment.
Brookings argues that little of this can be broken down on a regional basis. "Do you live in the 'Rust Belt' or the 'Sun Belt?" it asks. "Are you a West coaster, an East coaster, or a resident of 'flyover country?' .....Does any of that matter? Maybe not as much as you think. Our new report........finds that who metropolitan areas are is in many ways more important than where they are." In other words, it says that cities everywhere are different from each other, that geography is not destiny, that different regions can show examples of each "typology."
Not so fast. A look at Brookings' maps show huge regional differences. Maybe geography (not to mention history and culture) still count for something. Let's take those "typologies" again.
- Next Frontier cities are all in the West and Southwest, except for Washington, D.C. -- a special case if there ever was one. The others are Albuquerque, Austin, Dallas-Fort worth, Denver, Houston, Sacramento, Seattle-Tacom and Tucson. No Midwesterners.
- New Heartland cities are the real mixed bag, scattered across the American map, and do include some Midwestern cities. They stretch from Portland and Salt Lake City in the west to Richmond and Atlanta in the southeast. But they include Indianapolis, Minneapolis-St.Paul, Madison, Kansas City, Des Moines and Columbus. There's some commonalities here, and we'll come back to them in a minute.
- The Diverse Giants include Chicago, plus one eastern city (New York), one southern city (Miami), and no less than five California metros.
- The Border Growth cities are just what the name implies -- five metros in California, plus Orlando and a clutch of southwestern immigrant gateways like McAllen, Texas. No Midwesterns.
- Mid-Sized Magnets are largely in the middle states -- Chattanooga, Little Rock, Oklahoma City -- or in the South, with a couple of Far West outliers. No Midwesterners.
- Skilled Anchors are old factory towns that are beginning to make the transition to a more moderate economy, and here's where the Midwest begins to dominate. There's one Southern city, Jackson. All the rest are Midwestern -- Akron, Cincinnati, Rochester, Syracuse, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and St. Louis -- or New England -- Boston and Hartford, for instance.
- Industrial Core cities are the old factory towns that haven't made the transtiion. Again, there are a few in the South, such as Birmingham and New Orleans. All the rest are in the Midwest or New England. The Midwestern members of this grim caucus are Buffalo, Cleveland, Dayton, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Toledo, Wichita and Youngstown.
Let's add this up. There are 23 Midwestern metros in these seven categories, and all but Chicago, that Diverse Giant, are in three of them. Fifteen, in fact, are in the bottom two -- old factory towns that either are or are not clawing their way back. Given the fact that heavy industry is what the Midwest has always done for a living, there's no surprise here. If Brookings thinks that geography isn't defining the reality of these 15 cities, it isn't looking at its own map.
But wait! There are those other seven among the New Heartland metros -- Columbus, Des Moines, Indianapolis, the two Kansas Cities, Madison, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Omaha-Council Bluffs. That's a lot of success stories for a region that is supposed to be in long-term decline. Does this mean we have to rethink the whole concept of a Midwestern regional economy?
I don't think so, and the reason lies in the fact that most of the Midwestern metros cited by Brookings still lie at the bottom of the heap, seeking recovery. All the New Heartland metros share one common characteristic -- none was dominated by heavy industry, so none has had to overcome this Rust Belt legacy, as places like Cleveland and Detroit have. Each has a history of service industries, like insurance, or of more modern industries, like chemicals. Think of the companies that have always powered Minneapolis -- Cargill, 3M, Medtronics. None has taken the hit in the global economy that General Motors, Delphi and Maytag have.
Interestingly, five of the seven are state capitals. You can outsource auto-making, but you can't outsource legislatures or the many other government jobs. (With most Midwestern states in deep deficit, state governments might not be such steady earners in the future.)
As Brookings said, these seven cities are experiencing high growth but low diversity. Perhaps diversity is overrated as a plus for economic development. Or perhaps the economies of these cities just don't offer the jobs that attract immigrants.
Finally, all have high educational attainment. Some of them -- Madison, Columbus, Minneapolis -- are the seats of first-class state universities, which spin off both brains and jobs. While the others all have respectable colleges or universities -- Butler, Creighton, Drake and the like -- these aren't the sort of schools that energize an entire urban economy. It's more likely that places like Indianapolis and Des Moines offer the kind of white-collar jobs that draw in college grads.
There's another important factor here, and a look at the map makes clear what it is. It also raises a very important issue for policymakers.
Almost every Midwestern state has one successful city represented either among the Diverse Giants or New Heartlanders. (Michigan is the only exception.) This is odd when you think about it. Chicago remains strong while other Illinois cities -- Rockford, Decatur, Danville -- decay. Indianapolis thrives but the rest of Indiana -- Muncie, Kokomo, Terre Haute, South Bend -- treads water. All of Ohio is locked in a long-term decline except for one city at its very heart, Columbus.
Does this mean that the Midwestern economy as a whole remains so weak that there's no room in any state for more than one prosperous city? Does it mean that there's little hope in the global age for any city except those who played little part in the industrial past?
More to the point, the Midwestern economy in the past was supported by a lineup of prosperous cities, big and small, in each state. Ohio had Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, Akron and many other smaller industial powerhouses. Small factory towns dotted the landscapes of Illinois and Indiana and succored the regions around them. Iowa didn't have to depend on Des Moines: it had big moneyspinners in the Quad Cities, Dubuque and Waterloo. Michigan, of course, throbbed to the beat of the Auto Age.
All that's gone, and we're left with one productive outpost in states that have otherwise gone fallow. But none of these isolated cities is strong enough to support the rest of its states. Des Moines and Indianapolis can bring energy to the metro regions beyond them, but no more. Even Chicago can't prop up the rest of Illinois, let alone the Midwest.
It's no secret that Chicago and the handful of other success stories have been bleeding their hinterlands dry -- of jobs, of finance, of talent, especially of the best young people who could be reviving their home towns. With the departure of heavy industry, these towns have nothing to keep their resources -- human and financial -- from decamping to the nearest vibrant city.
Policymakers, both state and federal, will be tempted to pump money into the thriving cities, from Columbus to Omaha, if only because it makes sense to spend funds where they are most likely to work. But this policy, while guaranteeing the growth of Midwestern cities like Indianapolis and Chicago, also guarantees the continuing impoverishment of all those semi-abandoned places in between.
The debate on this has not begun. The Brookings report should be the spur to get it started. | <urn:uuid:882438ff-a0eb-425e-b5dc-2f2db6c7d16d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://globalmidwest.typepad.com/global-midwest/2010/05/brookings-and-the-midwest.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945854 | 2,301 | 2.34375 | 2 |
The Spirit of Curling
Curling is a game of skill and
traditions. A shot well executed is a delight to see and so, too, it is a fine
thing to observe the time-honored traditions of curling being applied in the
true spirit of the game. Curlers play to win but never to humble their
opponents. A true curler would prefer to lose rather than win unfairly.
A good curler never attempts to
distract an opponent or otherwise prevent another curler from playing his or
No curler ever deliberately breaks
a rule of the game or any of its traditions. But, if a curler should do so
inadvertently and be aware of it, he or she is the first to divulge the breach.
While the main objective of the
game is to determine the relative skills of the players, the spirit of the game
demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling and honorable conduct. This spirit
should influence both the interpretation and application of the rules of the
game and also the conduct of all participants on and off the ice. | <urn:uuid:dfd2a589-5641-4b12-af92-85ab1d147893> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mayfieldcurling.com/AboutCurling/Spirit.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952202 | 228 | 2.265625 | 2 |
I mentioned earlier that I had written a motion about Home Educated children and the Schools Parliament. The agenda has just been published. I've pasted the text below.
Whether the motion gets debated depends on the party whips. Only five get picked for actual debate and there are more than five. It's possible though that instead of being debated it'll be agreed across parties in advance. And even if this doesn't happen the Executive Member for the subject, which I understand will be Councillor Jane Corbett, will need to report back on it. So hopefully something will happen whichever route the motion actually takes through the system.
Text of motion starts:
Council recognises the excellent work done by the Liverpool Schools Parliament. Council believes that the Parliament gives a chance for children from across Liverpool to take part in, and experience, democratic discussion and decision making.
Some children in the City are however excluded from any possibility of taking part in the Schools Parliament. These are children who are being educated at home.
Council believes that a number of representatives of “home educated children” ought to be allowed to take part in Schools Parliament debates and events.
Council understands that there is a network of parents involved in home education in the City and that through them it would be possible to organise a selection process for representatives for the Upper and Lower Houses of the Parliament.
Council therefore requests the relevant Executive Member to ensure arrangements are made to recruit home educated children to the Parliament in time for the next academic year.
Council also requests the relevant select committee to review this arrangement after one year of operation. | <urn:uuid:f888b485-382c-4db1-b5f6-90d0f65576e4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://paulakeaveney.blogspot.com/2010/05/motion-to-next-council-meeting.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972469 | 324 | 1.59375 | 2 |
To view an abstract, select an author from the vertical list on the left side.
2008 Grants - Wetzel
The Role of Amyloid-Beta Aggregate Polymorphism in Alzheimer's Disease
Ronald Wetzel, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh
2008 Investigator-Initiated Research Grant
Beta-amyloid (also call amyloid-beta) is a protein fragment that aggregates to form amyloid plaque, a characteristic feature of Alzheimer pathology. For many years, scientists believed that formation of amyloid plaque was a crucial step in the progression of Alzheimer's disease, since amyloid plaques were known to be toxic to nerve cells. In recent years, however, evidence has accumulated that smaller aggregates of beta-amyloid (oligomers) may be the crucial toxic form.
According to this new concept, amyloid plaque may actually serve a beneficial purpose by removing beta-amyloid from the fluid surrounding nerve cells, thereby reducing the number of toxic beta-amyloid oligomers. Ronald Wetzel, Ph.D., and colleagues have extended this concept further by proposing that amyloid plaques can have different molecular conformations (polymorphisms) and that the precise conformation affects the amount of beta-amyloid that remains free in the brain. If this idea is correct, then the conformation of amyloid plaque that forms may influence the rate at which Alzheimer's disease progresses in different individuals.
Dr. Wetzel and colleagues plan to study how different conformations of amyloid plaque accumulate new beta-amyloid molecules and how that process influences the amount of free beta-amyloid in the brain. They will then use this information to study amyloid plaques in brain material from patients who have died from Alzheimer's disease. The researchers will study how plaque conformation affects the rate of progression and severity of disease. These studies may clarify the factors that influence the risk of Alzheimer's disease, the age of onset of the disease and its rate of progression. They may also identify new molecular targets that can be used for diagnosis and treatment. | <urn:uuid:ab339caf-f3fd-48df-8e9a-cbe96df0c5f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.alz.org/research/alzheimers_grants/for_researchers/overview-2008.asp?grants=2008wetzel | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927953 | 436 | 2.28125 | 2 |
Muslim Fanatics Terrorize a Nation
At The Australian, Anthony Browne has a must-read piece about the murderous intimidation being practiced in the Netherlands by Islamic jihad groups: Muslim fanatics terrorise a nation.
And if I haven’t mentioned it lately, Dutch MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a heroine of the highest magnitude.
A FILM about gay rights should hardly raise an eyebrow in The Netherlands, which for centuries has prided itself as a beacon of freedom of expression and was the first country to legalise gay marriage.
But when Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali refugee turned Dutch MP, started making a new film about the oppression of homosexuals under Islam, the threat to everyone taking part was deemed so great that she decided there would be no faces shown on screen and no end credits and that the entire production team would remain anonymous.
Ali, a “lapsed Muslim” who revealed this week that she had finished the script, lives in a safe house under 24-hour protection.
The precaution is as wise as the courage is extraordinary: Theo van Gogh, the director of Ali’s previous film, about domestic violence under Islam, was killed — repeatedly shot and almost decapitated in broad daylight in the streets of Amsterdam by an Islamic extremist.
Impaled on a knife in van Gogh’s chest was a five-page note declaring holy war on The Netherlands and threatening death to other public figures deemed “enemies of Islam”.
A year after his murder, The Netherlands is a country transformed. Previously, only the Queen and Prime Minister had police protection, and ministers cycled to their ministries.
Now, many politicians, writers and artists are considered to be in such danger that they have permanent armed guards and are driven around in bomb-proof armoured cars. The Interior Ministry has set up a special unit assessing death threats from Islamic extremists and providing protection squads. | <urn:uuid:0ecaf865-9bf6-4e8d-870d-fef928f57884> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=18308_Muslim_Fanatics_Terrorize_a_Nation&only | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962648 | 394 | 1.515625 | 2 |
By Maggie Fazeli Fard
(c) 2013, The Washington Post
— Exercise DVDs for the new year
It's the new year, with its countless resolutions to lose weight and get fit. To help those eager to embark on a new exercise plan — or shake up an old one — Acacia has released a slew of workout DVDs and box sets. "Dr. Lisa: Yoga Blast" is a compilation of three 20-minute workouts featuring Lisa Masterson of the TV show "The Doctors." Masterson and her trainer lead yoga workouts interspersed with strength and cardio.
"Ultimate Kettlebell Workouts for Beginners" combines strength and aerobic training using kettlebells, a type of weight that resembles a cannonball with a handle. The DVD includes safety tips, step-by-step instructions and three workouts.
"Bethenny's Skinnygirl Yoga Workouts" is a collection of reality-TV star Bethenny Frankel's yoga-based workout DVDs, including "Body by Bethenny" and "Bethenny's Skinnygirl Workout." Another compilation of yoga workouts is "Shiva Rea: Daily Energy Collection," which includes 14 20-minute practices that can be done on their own or mixed and matched to create longer workouts.
Stress-busting tips for caregivers
AARP the Magazine, December-January
When caring for others, it's all too easy to lose track of caring for ourselves. We might turn to fast food, lose sleep and forgo moments of relaxation in favor of making sure our loved ones are as comfortable as possible.
But experts say managing stress, which is a key aspect of staying healthy, is especially important for caregivers. AARP the Magazine has six tips for caregivers: (1) Cook all-in-one meals, such as stews, in large batches, and stash them in the freezer. (2) Take time out to meditate daily; even 12 minutes a day has been shown to dramatically improve mental health, the magazine says. (3) Stockpile healthy snacks such as fruit, vegetables, a handful of almonds or a peanut butter sandwich. (4) Don't rush: By slowing down while doing basic tasks such as showering or cooking, you can reduce distractions and avoid injuries. (5) Volunteer. You're already giving your time to help a family member, but supporting a different cause in a different setting can be therapeutic. (6) Sleep! Sleep deprivation depletes energy and increases anxiety, the last thing you need when dealing with the demands of caregiving. | <urn:uuid:bb4515ee-68a5-4291-a1c6-618d85689d15> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cullmantimes.com/goodhealth/x964863090/Exercise-DVDs-Stress-Busting-Tips/print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933997 | 528 | 1.632813 | 2 |
ASTM D6868 - 11 Standard Specification for Labeling of End Items that Incorporate Plastics and Polymers as Coatings or Additives with Paper and Other Substrates Designed to be Aerobically Composted in Municipal or Industrial Facilities
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Referenced ASTM Standards The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard. | <urn:uuid:e27221fd-3898-4d38-86f6-9605a124f8aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.astm.org/DATABASE.CART/STD_REFERENCE/D6868.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923621 | 126 | 2.046875 | 2 |
(Copied from Press Release by Crossway Publishing) Renowned artist and writer Makoto Fujimura is not shy about the importance of his latest project. “Whether I like it or not, this is what I will be remembered by,” Fujimura asserts. “I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that it is a commission of the decade, if not more,” says Valerie Dillon, whose Dillon Gallery is Fujimura’s main exhibitor.
The commission is an illuminated manuscript published by Crossway, to commemorate the four hundred year anniversary of The King James Bible, set to be released January 2011. The leather-bound English Standard Version of the Bible, printed with a six-color metallic process, will comprise the four Gospels as designed and illustrated by Fujimura. Five major new works, painted in the artist’s Manhattan studio, will be the volume’s main images, making this the first such manuscript to feature abstract contemporary art in lieu of traditional representational illustrations. It is this unprecedented marriage of a modern, usually secular art form with ancient scripture that most interests Fujimura, who aims to depict “the greater reality that the Bible speaks of... for the pure sake of integrating faith and art in our current pluralistic, multicultural world.”
The artist is quintessentially multicultural. Born in Boston to Japanese parents, Fujimura lived in three countries before the age of ten. While attending school in Japan and the US, he met and married an American woman, then became a New Yorker. He is both culturally and literally bilingual, a seasoned navigator of the uneasy overlap between East and West. But he also traverses the deeper divide between the art world and the church. As an Artist and a Christian rather than a Christian Artist, Fujimura is Crossway’s ideal candidate, an individual defined by the very juxtapositions this Bible will display.
Fujimura’s work also fits the commission. As a student of Nihonga, a Japanese technique dating to the 8th century, Fujimura and his classmates at the Tokyo University of Fine Art set out to “[break] with tradition in order to revitalize and expand the art form,” according to Dillon. The Dillon Gallery is the foremost Western gallery representing contemporary Nihonga artists. The work of that group, which includes Hiroshi Senju, Norihiko Saito and Chen Wenguang, created an “entirely new approach to Nihonga,” a synthesis between traditional and modern techniques.
Fujimura is not alone in his complexity. Sociologist Tony Carnes sees Fujimura as part of a “global religious transformation,” the result of blurring lines between mainstream and religious culture. Another recent illustrated manuscript of Genesis, by decidedly secular illustrator R. Crumb, is evidence of this shift.
Fujimura also recognizes this movement, saying “the Age of Faith is coming.” This illuminated manuscript, painted in Midtown Manhattan by a cultural navigator like Fujimura, will be further affirmation. “Jesus is a New Yorker,” Carnes says. “And he’s got an illustrated Bible.” | <urn:uuid:23070a93-24de-43b5-ba24-05f401d45cd1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.makotofujimura.com/writings/crossway-bible/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946437 | 666 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Best Documentary Nominee!
2006 Independent Spirit Awards
During the last decade over 35,000 people have been killed in Colombia's civil war, a now 40-year-old conflict that has moved from the nation's jungles to its cities, where left-wing guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries combat each other and government forces. Today urban gangs allied with either side are engaged in a war for the control of neighborhood slums, with adjoining barrios pitted against one another, and the civilian populace caught in the middle. As a resident of one such Medellin barrio, La Sierra, explains, the neighborhood is "in the hands of kids with guns."
The winner of Best Documentary at the 2004 IFP Market and the Grand Jury Award at the 2005 Miami Film Festival, LA SIERRA traces a year in the life of three young people in a Medellín barrio: Edisón, the charismatic gang leader and playboy who has fathered six children with six different women; Cielo, a widowed mother with a paramilitary boyfriend in jail, as she struggles to avoid becoming a prostitute; and Jesús, a young gangster whose readiness for death fuses with his indulgence in drugs.
Produced by Colombia-based photojournalist Scott Dalton and Margarita Martinez, an A.P. reporter based in Bogota, the film contrasts frightening scenes of armed street battles with quiet scenes of domestic life, and the everyday culture of guns and drugs with vibrant scenes of the community. LA SIERRA is thus an intimate, emotionally powerful look at life in this impoverished and violent hillside community that few journalists dare to enter. While the film's semi-anthropological approach avoids any editorializing or moralizing about the lives of its protagonists, LA SIERRA nevertheless succeeds in revealing their dangerous activities as motivated less by political ideology than as a means to social prestige, power and relative wealth.
Since the filmmakers were able to gain the confidence of their subjects, LA SIERRA features unusually revealing interviews with Edisón, Cielo and Jesús about their views of the conflict, their family lives and relationships, and their dreams, for themselves and for their children, about escaping the cycle of violence and poverty.
LA SIERRA records the profound changes that the protagonists, and the barrio itself, underwent during the year, including peace, love, hope, victory, despair, heartbreak, and death. This unusual documentary offers us the rare opportunity to experience from within a conflict most often characterized by statements from government leaders in remote capitals, and to better understand the violence that holds the community in fear as well as the human tenderness and faith that enables it to survive.
"...it is poised somehow between sensational portraits of the crime-infested slums of the global South and pictures of the "mafias" or urban guerillas that either mythologize or demonize the subject at hand. ...sober yet deeply moving..."— Anthropology Review Database, December 2011
2006 Award of Excellence, Society for Visual Anthropology
2006 United Nations Association Film Festival
Best Documentary, 2004 IFP Market
Grand Jury Award, 2005 Miami Film Festival
Special Mention for Best Documentary, 2005 Slamdance Film Festival
2005 Hot Docs Film Festival
2005 Human Rights Watch Film Festival
2006 Latin American Studies Association Film Festival
"Courageous! Poignant!"—The New York Times
"Essential viewing for anyone who ponied up for the aestheticized amorality of the Brazilian City of God. Eschewing both cool detachment and exploitative sentimentality, Dalton and Martinez find the ideal emotional distance from their subjects, depicting La Sierra as a sociological nightmare, while never letting us forget that real people actually live there."—The Village Voice
"Vibrant and fascinating. Devastating!"—Time Out
" * * * [3 stars]! Riveting!"—New York Post
"An Unforgettable Film! A singular entry into one of the world's oldest civil wars."—Miami Herald
"An intimate, powerfully disturbing look at the violent barrios of Medellin, Colombia, where baby-faced youths tote guns, commit murder and snort cocaine with a live-fast-die-young abandon. Through remarkably personal access, the filmmakers take in these teens' fatalistic philosophies and the violence that begets their violence and even find, in their subjects' own children, some small hope for the future. Sobering stuff you'll likely never forget."—LA Weekly
"Stunning! Devastating Power! Reminiscent of 'City of God' - only real."—Austin Chronicle
"A stark, relentlessly deglamourised vision of thug life, LA SIERRA is essential viewing. The best Latin film of the [Human Rights Watch] festival is unapologetically up-close and-personal. Even more remarkable than the footage of paramilitary soldiers taking sniper fire and running from police is the trust that co-directors Scott Dalton and Margarita Martinez instill in their subjects."—The Village Voice
"An astonishing level of fly-on-the-wall intimacy, and a compelling portrait of individuals in a society ravaged by war."—South Florida Sun-Sentinel
"Astonishing! Harrowing!"—Ain't It Cool News
"Captures beautifully the lives of three kids neck-deep in Columbia's rural gang violence."—New York Press
"A balanced, contained perspective on a situation that's chaotic, unflinching, and lethal. Emotionally potent!"—LA City Beat | <urn:uuid:cdff09aa-84a3-4b2c-8291-35624aeb40b0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://icarusfilms.com/new2005/sier.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.913656 | 1,158 | 1.632813 | 2 |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is expected to sign into law Friday a Russian trade and human rights bill that Russia’s president sharply criticized this week.
The measure opens new export opportunities for American businesses. But one section would punish Russian officials who allegedly commit human rights violations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the bill “a politicized and unfriendly act.”
The bill establishes permanent normal trade relations with Russia and eliminates a long-obsolete 1974 provision that tied trade relations with the former Soviet Union to the emigration of Jews and other Soviet minorities.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
|Like us on Facebook||Get our newsletter||Follow us on Twitter| | <urn:uuid:652bb546-ae86-45bf-bd35-e88019ce765b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-to-sign-russia-trade-bill-blasted-by-putin/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93518 | 142 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Stop! Read This Before Tapping Retirement Savings
DON'T DO IT: Borrowing from your retirement can cost you in ways you may not realize.
Opinion: Higher-Education Bubble Is Preventable
GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TUITION DOLLARS: With the cost of school constantly rising, students need to work harder to ensure their education is as valuable as possible.
What to Do With a Tax Refund
AVOID THE URGE TO SPLURGE: Itís tempting to blow your tax refund on an impromptu shopping spree or the latest tech gadget, but donít drop those dollars just yet. Before you spend your refund, think about where that money would really be best used.
The Great Paperwork Dilemma: What to Keep and What to Toss
GET ORGANIZED: Know what paperwork to keep and what to throw away. Use this advice to get going in the right direction.
Bun in the Oven: How to Cut Newborn Expenses
OH BABY: If you had a child in 2011, expect to spend about $234,900 from his or her birth until age 17. Itís easy to get caught up in a spending frenzy when youíre expecting. Here are ways to take control.
Opinion: The iPhone Has Been a Boon for the Economy
iPHONE BUILDS BIZ: Some criticize the iPhoneís effect on the economy since itís manufactured overseas, but many peripheral industriesófrom the app store to accessory creators to gamers and bloggersóare riding the iPhoneís coattails to success.
Declutter Your Digital Life
CLEANUP: Between blogs, social networks, online media sites, photo-sharing sites, and more, much of our free time is spent in the digital world. While digital devices bring countless benefits, the pileup can become daunting. Hereís how to declutter your digital world.
Curbing the Costs of Being in Weddings
WEDDING SEASON: Itís likely youíll be asked to be a bridesmaid or groomsman at some point. Itís all kinds of fun, but it can wreak havoc on a budget. Fortunately, you can use some smart tactics to squeeze the most out of your wedding dollars, from clothing to gifts to travel.
Secure Your Mobile Wallet
SAFE AND SOUND: Mobile applications allowing you to manage and spend your hard-earned cash are being developed and implemented by financial institutions around the country. No matter which applications you use, there are security precautions to keep in mind.
Spear Phishing Tactics Convincing, Insidious
HEADS-UP: Spear phishing has become a profitable scam. Cybercriminals are tricking more victims with potent, authentic-looking scams that are highly targeted, contain some personal information, and hook even the most tech-savvy individuals.
Streamline Your Finances?Automatically
MAKE THINGS EASIER: Stop opening envelopes, writing checks, and visiting an ATM for every transaction. Thereís a better way, one that many people have already embraced: Automate your finances.
Save Money With Military Discounts
A MEASURE OF THANKS: More than 200 stores and services around the country try to make the lives of servicemembers and their families easier by offering discounts.
Something for Nothing: Save Money With These Free Finds
EVERYBODY LOVES FREE: Contrary to what most marketing folks would like you to think, you donít have to spend a lot to find fun entertainment or helpful services.
The Name Game: Four Steps to Changing Your Name
NAME CHANGE: Letís face it: Changing your name after you get married is a pretty big decision. After all, a name signifies your identity. If you decide to take your spouseís last name, you need to take a few steps to make the name-change process run smoothly.
Wedding Gowns for Less
WHITE WEDDING: With every dream wedding comes a dream wedding dress. But as any bride will tell you, every dream gown comes with a price. Use these suggestions to decrease that price tag without compromising your idea of the perfect dress.
ON YOUR OWN: Single parents have the same major financial goals as other parents, such as staying out of debt, building and maintaining savings, socking away money for retirement, and, if you can, building a college fund for your child. To reach these goals on a single income, create a plan and stick to it.
Build Your First Budget
RUN YOUR FUNDS: Managing your own income and finances for the first time can seem overwhelming, but itís essential to get off to a smart financial start. Creating a ďplan to spendĒ instead of spending without thinking is the key to long-term happiness and short-term calm.
Understand Markups for Big Savings
DONíT OVERPAY: When you hear about markups on products, itís generally the cost difference between what a business pays to produce and sell a product and the sales price. Youíll rarely buy an item at a retailerís cost. However, you still can find ways to save by determining and comparing real-life markups on everyday products.
Five Things New Grads Should Consider
GET ON YOUR FEET: Youíve graduated from college! Itís an exciting time, but crossing that big stage to receive your degree most likely was your first step into the real world. Launch your postcollege life by learning how to navigate these five financial challenges for new graduates.
Cap and Benjamins: Using Graduation Gift Money
DONíT SPEND IT ALL IN ONE PLACE: While it may be tempting to take your graduation gift money and spend, spend, spend, think twice before going on that shopping spree or splurging on the latest gadget. Using gift money wisely allows you to set yourself up for a healthy financial future.
Insuring Your Pet Companion
A PET OWNERíS BEST FRIEND? Buying insurance for your pet might sound silly, but for pet owners who have ended up with staggering veterinary bills, the idea may sound inviting. Before you spring for a plan, understand what pet insurance covers and research your options to find the best plan at the right price. | <urn:uuid:e0741d15-464c-40ca-aa4b-d3505dbd6c86> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://moneymix.cuna.org/1/list.php?topic=11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917482 | 1,307 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Series : ICIS Legality of Mawlid un Nabi (PBUH) in the Light of Quran and Sunnah
Serial : 0631
Place : Lahore Pakistan
Date : 2004-04-10
Series ICIS Sitting 04 History of Mawlid un Nabi (PBUH) Celebration and the Concept of Biddah
In this final part of the four parts set, the subject of celebration in islam in general is discussed. Together with weather Islam approves of ancient celebration of those events that took place under the commandments of Allah in the time of various Prophets (AS). Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri gives countless evidences and arguments from the two primary sources of Islam the Quran and Hadith.
Proceeding further Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri gives an avalanche of references on Mawlid-un-Nabi (SAW) from classical and traditional scholars, who have written full fledged books on the subject of Mawlid-un-Nabi (SAW), such as Imam Abd-ur-Rahman knows as Iman Ibn Jawzi (al-Uroos), Imam Jazari (Mawlid Ibn Jazari), Imam Jalal-ud-Din Sayuti (al-Husnai Maqsad fi Amalil Mawlid), Imam Sakhawee (al-Fakhr-ul-Alavi fi Mawlid-an-Nabavi) with an endless list of scholars of high calibre who are regarded as the propagators of the true Islamic faith.
He then goes on to discuss a topic which is very well known and unfortunately due to the lack of traditional and classical knowledge is misinterpreted. It is concept of Biddah. He explains and describes the literal and technical defination of the word Biddah from the original Arabic and classical authorities. He starts by quoting the statement of Imam Shafi’i qouted by Imam Baihaqi, which gives the division of the two types of Biddah, Biddah Hasana and Biddah Sayyiah. Finally he quotes the statement of the Holy Prophet (SAW) taken from Sahih Muslim, which advocates the division of the two types of Biddah.
Concluding he states that if all constituent elements of Mawlid-un-Nabi (SAW) such as poems of praise, salutations, Qiyam, etc which are supported by the Quran, Hadith and authorities of Islam, then how can the wholesome be declared as Biddah? | <urn:uuid:1b0992a1-8a43-4a65-ac2f-7f3131dba628> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.islamtune.com/5040/sitting-04-history-of-mawlid-un-nabi-pbuh-celebration-and-the-concept-of-biddah/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.911139 | 533 | 2.71875 | 3 |
What you need to do to stay free of diabetes-related complications.
Diabetes-related complications can be prevented with good management. This also includes foot, dental and eye checks. Learn what your goals should be. The risk of diabetes-related complications is reduced when blood glucose levels, blood pressure and blood lipids are kept as close to normal as possible.
Target 1: Blood Glucose Levels
Regular testing can reinforce healthy lifestyle choices. It also gives information on responses to medication and other influences.
Even if you monitor levels on a glucometer regularly, check it in a laboratory at least once a month or once in three months. More frequent checks maybe needed if control is not adequate.
Aim for lower targets for younger people when compared to those above the age of 65.
Fasting should be less than 100-110 mg/dl
Post-prandial should be less than 140-160 mg/dl
Random less than 140 mg/dl.
Target 2: HbA1c
The HbA1c, also referred to as glycosylated haemoglobin, shows an average of your Blood glucose level (expressed as a percentage) over the past three months. It does not show highs and lows but gives an overall picture of your blood glucose management i.e. an average value.
Target level is 7 per cent or lower
Target 3: Blood pressure (BP)
This is the pressure at which your heart pumps blood. High blood pressure can increase risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney and eye disease.
Blood pressure should be checked regularly (at least at every doctor’s visit) and treated if necessary. Check the blood pressure every three months or more frequently if not under control.
For a diabetic, the target BP is 130/80 or lower
Target 4: Lipids
Dyslipidemia (High LDL (bad) cholesterol, Low HDL (good) cholesterol and high Triglyceride levels) is common in people with diabetes. LDL cholesterol can narrow your blood vessels. It is important to keep these at a low level to protect the heart. Higher levels of these are beneficial for the heart. Lipid profile should be tested every 6-12 months.
Total cholesterol should be less than 180 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol should be below 70-100 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol should be above 40mg/dl in men and above 50 mg/dl in women.
Triglyceride less than 150 mg/dl
Target 5: Eyes
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause blurred vision, cataracts, glaucoma and retinopathy. Many people don’t notice vision problems until retinopathy is well advanced, which is why regular testing is important. If you notice any changes in your vision, speak with your doctor or eye specialist immediately.
Let the doctor know that you have diabetes or hypertension so that they dilate your eyes to view the retina. This is most important for those who have diabetes and hypertension.
Your eyes should be checked every year, or more frequently if you have retinopathy.
Target 6: Feet
People with uncontrolled diabetes can develop changes in skin condition, calluses, dry skin, foot ulcers, nerve damage (neuropathy), and decrease in blood supply.
So it’s important to take good care of your feet and do daily foot checks. Check your feet every day See your doctor immediately if you have any of the above problems
Target 7: Kidneys
Over time, people with uncontrolled diabetes face increased risk of damage to their kidneys (nephropathy). Very early signs of kidney problems can be detected through a urine test called Microalbuminuria. Almost always it is possible to prevent kidney damage even at this stage, if efforts are taken to maintain a strict Diabetic control. Your kidney function (which includes microalbuminuria, urea, creatinine, and eGFR) should be checked at least once a year or earlier if advised by your doctor.
These targets and frequency of check-ups are general recommendations and can vary from person-to-person and time to time in the same individual. Check with your doctor for a correct schedule and target for your needs.
Many people do not do even a basic blood sugar test regularly. Lack of time, motivation and financial constraints are some of the main reasons. But well controlled diabetes seldom causes complications. Developing complications means neglect to take regular medications, failure in going for regular check-ups, not achieving targets and not consulting a doctor. Remember check-ups and targets are a continuous process and not a one-time achievement.
Dr. V Balaji is Director, Dr. Balaji Diabetes Care Centre. Dr. V. Seshiah is Chairman, Dr. V. Seshiah Diabetes Research Institute.
Other management goals
If you smoke: - STOP!
If you drink: try for 5-6 alcohol-free days each week. Have no more than 1- 2 standard drinks a week.
Keep a check on liver enzymes.
Be physically active. At least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise on most days
Follow a healthy eating plan.
Keywords: blood glucose levels, blood pressure, blood lipids, diabetes, medication, lifestyle diseases, insulin, glucometer, Dyslipidemia, cataracts, glaucoma, retinopathy, hypertension, nephropathy, Microalbuminuria. | <urn:uuid:09f955f6-bc2a-41af-a7a4-176cd6f5d639> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/rx/know-your-targets/article44913.ece | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901645 | 1,126 | 2.984375 | 3 |
A deviated septum occurs where there's an abnormal shape to the wall that divides your child's two nostrils.
- A septum is a wall that divides two cavities. In the nose, the septum is made of cartilage, and divides the nose into two separate chambers (right and left).
- A deviated septum may cause problems with proper breathing or nasal discharge.
A team of specialists
The General Otolaryngology Program at Boston Children's Hospital can provide comprehensive care for your child's deviated septum. The team will perform a diagnosis, propose a surgical treatment and follow up to make sure your child is recovering well. | <urn:uuid:bac48ad9-8858-44fe-8ead-3f17b426ae56> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://childrenshospital.org/az/Site707/mainpageS707P0.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00060-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906696 | 141 | 3.25 | 3 |
Dolomiti - Area around Cortina D'Ampezzo
In the north area of Veneto, surrounded by the Dolomites, is the Province of Belluno. It is a famous tourist destination where art, history and culture establish a perfect link with the wonderful surrounding environment. It is an extraordinary landscape with many small towns, impressive mountains, beautiful valleys and quiet woods.
The Dolomites are without a doubt the area’s largest attraction an extraordinary natural monumental masterpiece declared a Unesco heritage site in 2009, created over the centuries by an inimitable artist, Mother Nature. This imposing mountain range with Marmolada, Monte Antelao, Monte Civetta and Tre Cime of Lavaredo offers visitors the opportunity to admire outstanding landscapes, with big valleys close to impressive rocky mountainsides, small and big lakes that in summer are tinged with blue.
There are also many torrents, rivers and waterfalls with clean and roaring waters, thick woods that are a source of colour when the winter covers everything with white snow, creating an almost surreal landscape.
The sky too is extraordinary here, with incredible sunsets, followed by a wave of intense blue that colours the landscape, followed in turn by the dark of night, lightened by a wonderful moon and a multitude of stars. There are many ways to spend nature holidays, and also a lot of opportunities for those who want to explore the history and traditions of this land.
A tour of the villas and castles, abbeys and monasteries, archaeological sites, museums, cities and old small towns of the area provides ample opportunity for those who as well as experiencing the natural world want to discover the interesting historical and artistic heritage of this area.
When you get to Belluno, the first thing you notice is calm and peace, a rare commodity in this day and age. If you walk in the old city centre you discover a city perfectly adapted to the human dimension, with no frenetic rhythms. It is a city that has kept the mountain lifestyle, probably because it is surrounded and protected by the Pre-alps and by the imposing Dolomitic faces of the Schiara, with the famous Gusela del Vescovà, a monolithic steeple 40 metres high, emblem of Belluno
In this almost surreal environment it is possible to admire buildings and architecture from different periods, such as Porta Rugo, a typical medieval structure; the old Piazza del Mercato where the site of the Roman castrum in ancient times; Piazza Duomo which hosts Palazzo dei Rettori, the Cathedral of Belluno and Palazzo dei Giuristi, site of the Civic Museum containing many interesting paintings.
In the central area of the province is the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi, characterised by wild and captivating nature, with rocky peaks, enchanting valleys and pure waterways.
Feltre is a wonderful fortified town perched on a hill of Val Belluna, with a remarkable history that many old buildings like the Torre del Castello di Alboino, which dominates the valley, can prove.
There are many unique and beautiful valleys in the area of Belluno. In the north is the “jewel” of Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the valley of the same name. It is Italy’s best known skiing area , and is also famous for its glamourous and lively nightlife. Close to this area, the Valle del Boite, has remarkable resorts such as Cibiana and San Vito di Cadore, all well equipped to receive tourists.
The Cadore-Auronzo-Misurina area, with the beautiful lakes of Santa Caterina and Misurina at the bottom of the imposing Tre Cime of Lavaredo, is the perfect challenge for mountaineering enthusiasts. Various landscapes with an element in common: the incomparable beauty of nature.
The most northern part is occupied by the “communita montana” of the mountain area of Comelico e Sappada, two pretty and welcoming places to spend a calm and relaxed holiday in the captivating natural landscapes of Valgrande, Val Sesis, and Val Visdende (the “valley that is well worth a visit”).
At the centre of the province, bordering Trentino-Alto Adige, there is another remarkable skiing area with the impressive Marmolada, the Monte Civetta and its challenging mountainsides, and the Conca Agordina, surrounded by majestic peaks. These giants creations of nature belong to the “Dolomiti Superski”, an entertainment park on the snow between Veneto and Trentino, with 1200 km of ski slopes for skiing in one of the most charming landscapes of the Dolomites. Between Belluno and the Veneto plains, in a unique location, is the Nevegal Alp. A perfect place in any season, because in summer, when nature is lush, there are many opportunities to have fun; in winter this place becomes the favourite destination for skiing enthusiasts, with 30 km of ski slopes and 10 km for cross-country skiing.
There are many things to do, since these places offer a wide variety of opportunities to escape from the daily routine and to fortify body and mind.
In Belluno the Dolomites are never far from your thoughts, it is the perfect place to practise mountain sports: Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, climbing, snowboarding, bobsledding, ice-skating, curling, snowshoe racing, hiking, and also hang gliding and paragliding, for extreme sports lovers.
Adults and children will have fun on a sledge pulled by dogs with a musher telling the tricks and guiding the visitors along routes that explore the wonderful nature of these places.
For bike lovers there are many routes to discover by mountain biking along rocky slopes, alpine pastures, thick woods or along the sides of swift brooks. But it is not just a place for those who love the mountains: it is also possible to spend holidays in lush woods protected by impressive rocky mountainsides, or in small and pretty lakes enjoying aquatic sports. On the small beach by the lake, adults and children can relax, play and enjoy aquatic sports such as sailing, canoeing and windsurfing.
It is possible to have a picnic and taste local specialities.
For those who are tired, under stress, or looking for relaxing treatments, the Terme delle Dolomiti are ideal, against the wonderful natural scenery of Valgrande, bordering Austria. They are renowned for their special waters, rich in minerals and used for their curative properties and as beauty treatments.
December is the month of holidays, sounds, lights and colours, and the Christmas street markets are a definite must see. The booths are set in decorated wooden houses exhibiting handicrafts, specialties and unusual gifts. And if the Dolomites mountaintops are covered with a blanket of snow, the scenery is even even more suggestive.
In the summer the spectacular Palio di Feltre is held,, where the four districts of the city challenge each other in competitions like archery, tug-of-war and horse-races. Every District has a few are festive stalls with traditional menus, music and games.
History, engines and nature, three passions join in the “Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti”, a remarkable national event with the most beautiful old cars in the world challenging each other on the hairpin bends of Dolomite roads. It is a race full of charm, that captivates everyone.
The unspoiled nature is a real wealth for this land, for many reasons. The vast green mass of land next to the Dolomites is the perfect habitat for outdoor cattle farming, and it is possible to obtain excellent raw materials to make exquisite high-quality specialties. Ancient techniques, practised with love do the rest.
The main ingredients of Belluno’s cuisine are simplicity and genuineness, together with delicious cheese, excellent meat and tasty cold cuts.
And, obviously, there is the main ingredient of the Venetian art of cooking: polenta. It can be a single course or perfectly served with a slice of Casél dell’Agordino, Contrin, Nevegal or Casalingo d’Alpago, great local dairy products.
Polenta can also be served with a slice of exquisite speck ham of Cadore or salami from the Belluno area, both of them made with the meat from Alpine reared cattle. Another typical dish that reflects traditional local flavours is polenta served with game.
For any other combination it is worthwhile exploring the area of Belluno and taste the original and exquisite recipes of the locals. Amongst the traditional specialties there is kodinzon, a jam made with dried apples from local cultivation. The apples are cooked to obtain a purée, then dried; the Pastin, flat meat balls made with sausage then fried or grilled.
Another good recipe is the Risotto Lamonese, called “the food of the poets”, with exquisite Lamon beans flavoured with bay leaves.
In the southern part of Veneto, lying in the Po Valley, the Province of Rovigo is mostly occupied by Polesine and crossed by two remarkable rivers: the Po and the Adige. Following the gentle flow of these rivers it is possible to start a characteristic and unusual trip through woods, old ...
In the Veneto Region, in the waters of the Adriaticis one of the most evocative places in the world, a priceless treasure: the Venetian Lagoon. At the heart of this precious heritage there is the Serenissima, with its characteristic brigdes spanning the canals where gondolas go back and ...
Calabria is at the toe of the boot, the extreme south of Italy - lapped by the splendid crystal blue Ionian and
Situated in Italy's northeast, Veneto extends from the Dolomites to the Adriatic Sea, by way of an expansive range of hills and a valley furrowed by rivers, canals and the Po River Delta. The typical scenery of Veneto's coast is the ...
Tornare indietro nel tempo e volare a bordo di una mongolfiera, per ammirare dall’alto lo straordinario paesaggio delle Dolomiti coperte di neve. Sarà possibile farlo a Dobbiaco, in provincia di Bolzano, dal 6 al 13 gennaio. In quei giorni, infatti, la cittadina trentina ospiterà il Dolomiti ...
They are considered as the most beautiful mountains in the world, located in Northern Italy, province of Bolzano, Belluno, Trento, Udine and Pordenone: they are the Dolomites, being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Their fragility is also one of their virtues: the dolomite rocks in fact ...
Lake Garda is the largest of the Italian lakes. Of glacial origin, it occupies a deep canyon between Lombardy in the west, Veneto in the east and Trentino in the north. The landscape is enchanting: the intense blue of the waters and the greens of the Mediterranean vegetation. Tourists have been ...
Standing in a splendid natural position, open to the lake but surrounded by high peaks, the centre of Riva del Garda preserves interesting historical buildings such as the Torre Apponale, from the twelfth-fourteenth centuries and the town hall dating from 1482.
Ancient coral reefs, modelled by the ice and the rain, the Dolomites take on amazing shapes. The snows draw soft white strips on the jagged rock walls, which in turn reflect the light with picturesque effects and colours.
Situated in a beautiful valley at the head of the Val Gardena, Selva overlooks the magnificent Dolomitic scenario of the Sella and Sassolungo. Climbing the Sella Pass we reach panoramic points of considerable beauty. | <urn:uuid:9a0fe785-5c74-4574-9fca-4f5f70113f17> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/veneto/belluno.html?no_cache=1&h=misurina | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91982 | 2,563 | 1.828125 | 2 |
At 103 years old, Bill Calwell still plays golf and goes fishing. The Topeka resident has authored three books and continues to write on an old Royal typewriter.
However, his vision limits his ability to read, a big problem for a writing man. No worries, though. For the past 15 years, Calwell has subscribed to a free program that provides him audio recordings of his work and reads him the day’s news.
It’s called Audio-Reader, a Kansas University public service for visually impaired people. It’s based in Lawrence at the Baehr home, 1120 W. 11th St., next door to Kansas Public Radio. It broadcasts readings of national and local newspapers and excerpts of books 24 hours a day.
“It’s my right hand,” Calwell said. “Sometimes I think, at my age, my life wouldn’t be worth living without it.”
Public-radio stations broadcast the program on a subchannel received through specially tuned radios. Audio-Reader provides free radios to anyone with a documented vision handicap.
The founder, the late Petey Cerf, an advocate for elderly people, realized nursing home patients needed such a service. She ignored skeptics and started the program with the university, which agreed to administer the program through its KANU station and pay for receivers. Cerf bought the transmitter required to broadcast the program. Audio-Reader began broadcasting 40 years ago today from the Sudler house, now the Max Kade Center.
“Probably not more than three or four of us could record at a time,” said Eleanor Symons, who has volunteered for 40 years.
The station gradually grew, acquiring an old prison trailer and expanding its broadcast range beyond Lawrence. In 1988, the station moved into its current location, formally a fraternity house.
Today, the program is hosted on the NPR satellite and picked up by seven stations in Kansas and Missouri. Stations as far away as California and New Jersey broadcast select portions. Lori Kesinger, program manager, said Audio-Reader is nationally recognized for its excellence.
Programming is a mix of national and local news. Kesinger said the focus is to keep listeners in touch with their community.
“I try to ask, ‘If you lived in that town, what would you look for?’” Kesinger said.
Users can call in and listen to the day’s news over the phone. They can also submit documents to be recorded.
Audio-Reader relies on funding from the university and private donors, including the Lions Club. Money comes in cycles and, lately, Kesinger said it’s a low one. The station is not facing immediate danger, though.
“It’s not going to shut down,” she said. “The founders set up a good framework.”
Volunteers read thousands of pages every day.
When asked what motivated her to work with the organization for 40 years, Symons said it was the same reason she started.
“Honestly, I like reading aloud,” she said. “I always have.” | <urn:uuid:97a583b1-885a-4afa-8b2f-cd352c1c766d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/oct/11/audio-reader-celebrates-40-years-helping-visually-/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967532 | 661 | 1.5625 | 2 |
This course considers classic studies on the subject by psychiatrists, psychologists, neurologists, and ethnophamacologists, and includes readings from Freud, Jng, James, Leary, Harner, and Campbell, Galanter, and many more.
We examine these writings within the context of the writer's life and times. In so doing, we will encounter a vast variety of opinions about topics like asceticism, Asian religious systems, altered states of consciousness, cults, conversion, shamanism, mysticism, myth and meditation and more.
Studying these widely differing points of view will not necessarily lead us to the "truth" about the psychology of religion. But it will show us just how varied the approaches to this subject are, and how thinking abou tthis topic has evolved since William James published his landmark book about the Varieties of Religious Experience back in 1902. By the end of this course, each of us will be in a better position to formulate our own personal positions on these endlessly controversial questions covered in class.
Please note: This is a distance-learning, COMPUTER-BASED COURSE. Registration fees include 24-hour technical support and training in cutting-edge on-line learning techniques, in addition to regular course material. You need not be enrolled in other New School courses to take this course. Available for-credit (ask about for-credit fees). To register, call: 212-229-5690, or visit our website at http://www.dialnsa.edu | <urn:uuid:0126864d-4c67-4df5-8066-352502619f38> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.psywww.com/psyrelig/syllabi/packera.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918632 | 310 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Phyllis Schlafly is remembered as the one who leads the Eagle Forum and fought to defeat the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and 80s. For that, she is condemned by progressive women as being of the same character as Benedict Arnold. Indeed, Phyllis’s whole career is one of staggering hypocrisy:
The feminist activist Gloria Steinem and the author Pia de Solenni, among others, have noted what they consider irony in Schlafly’s role as an advocate for the full-time mother and wife, while being herself a lawyer, editor of a monthly newsletter, regular speaker at anti-liberal rallies, and political activist. In her review of Schlafly’s Feminist Fantasies, de Solenni writes that “Schlafly’s discussion reveals a paradox. She was able to have it all: family and career. And she did it by fighting those who said they were trying to get it all for her… Happiness resulted from being a wife and mother and working with her husband to reach their goals.”
Now her son, Andrew Schlafly, is continuing in his mother’s footsteps, and is making an absolute fool of himself as the head of an biased web encyclopedia known as Conservapedia.
Here’s an example of Andrew’s foolishness:
On June 9, 2008, New Scientist published an article describing Richard Lenski‘s 20-year E. coli experiment, which observed the bacteria evolve the ability to metabolize citrate — a rare and complex mutation. Schlafly contacted Lenski to request the data. Lenski explained that the relevant data were in the paper and that Schlafly fundamentally misunderstood it. Schlafly wrote again and requested the raw data. Lenski replied again that the relevant data were already in the paper, that the “raw data” were living bacterial samples, which he would willingly share with qualified researchers at properly equipped biology labs, and that he felt insulted by letters and comments on Conservapedia, which he saw as brusque and offensive, including claims of outright deceit. The exchange, recorded on a Conservapedia page called “Lenski dialog”, was widely reported on news aggregate sites and weblogs. Carl Zimmer wrote that it was readily apparent that “Schlafly had not bothered to read [Lenski's paper] closely”, and PZ Myers criticized Schlafly for demanding data despite not having a plan to use it nor the expertise to analyze it. Consequently, editors who began to ask too many questions about the issue and about specific links “not allowed in Conservapedia”, were censored and permanently blocked.
Andrew founded Conservapedia because he claimed that Wikipedia was biased to the left, but in fact, being a right-wing extremist, he naturally sees anything even slightly to the left of him as unacceptable, and Conservapedia is a manifestation of his own bigotry.
If people like the Schlaflys ran America, we wouldn’t have a free country at all, but a theocratic empire in republican clothing, and where women are allowed to have careers, but only under men’s terms, not their own. They must be discredited and buried forever! | <urn:uuid:995de34c-4f83-453c-948b-b6848d9f6745> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dalehusband.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/the-insane-schlafly-klan/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977774 | 676 | 1.601563 | 2 |
California Sets Dialer Abandonment RateThe California Public Utilities Commission yesterday gave final approval to new restrictions that would limit telemarketers to abandonment rates of less than 3 percent through the end of the year and 1 percent after Jan. 1, 2003.
In a 5-0 vote, the commission instituted the rules for hang-up or "abandoned" telemarketing calls, which take effect July 1. Abandoned calls often occur due to the use of predictive dialers, which are automated dialers that increase call center efficiency but sometimes place calls when no telemarketing agent is available.
Consumer groups, including AARP, have criticized telemarketers for abandoned calls, saying they often cause consumers to worry that they are being spied upon or harassed.
The commission defined abandoned calls as: those that disconnect after the called person answers; when the called party does not receive a response from a telemarketer within two seconds of picking up the line; or when no telemarketing agent is available within four seconds of the called person's phone going off the hook. The four-second standard is temporary, lasting until Jan. 1, the commission said.
Violators of the restriction would be subject to penalties of at least $500 and up to $20,000. Calls to consumers with whom a company has an existing business relationship are exempt.
California state lawmakers directed the commission to institute rules for abandonment rates last year. The Direct Marketing Association's standard for abandoned calls is 5 percent. | <urn:uuid:2c5b9a7e-88b9-495e-98d2-30efd303047b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dmnews.com/california-sets-dialer-abandonment-rate/article/77985/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950038 | 303 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Star-Banner seeks input: Medicine for your toddler?
Published: Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 1:01 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 1:01 p.m.
Confused about what medicine to give to your sick 2-year-old?
The Star-Banner is working on a story about the bottom line for parents when it comes to giving cold medicine to their children. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued an advisory for parents not to use common cold medicines for children under 2.
We'd like to hear what your questions or solutions are. Contact reporter Naseem Miller at firstname.lastname@example.org or 867-4140.
- Naseem Miller
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
Comments are currently unavailable on this article | <urn:uuid:4bf4653c-75f8-4d2f-817a-a40d42684618> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ocala.com/article/20080124/BREAKING_NEWS/66711039?Title=Star-Banner-seeks-input-Medicine-for-your-toddler- | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930581 | 206 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Trail of the Month: April 2003
Minuteman Bikeway, Massachusetts
Located a few miles northwest of Boston, the Minuteman Bikeway—celebrated as America's 500th rail-trail when it opened in 1992—continues to be one of the country's most popular rail-trails. The aesthetically pleasing route traces past ponds, lakes, parks and wildflower meadows as it connects the inner suburbs of Boston between Cambridge in the east and Bedford in the west. In addition to the recreation and alternative transportation opportunities provided by the paved 11 miles of the Minuteman Bikeway, the trail also provides walkers, bicyclists, inline skaters and wheelchair users a chance to pass through the historic area where the American Revolution began in April 1775.
In Cambridge, where the trail connects to the Alewife "T" Station, the bikeway plays an integral role in helping to reduce automobile traffic. With the direct transit connection, the trail provides an easy way for bicyclists and pedestrians to travel to subway and bus lines. Farther west, the trail connects to a wide range of shops and restaurants in downtown Arlington, helping to create a vibrant pedestrian- oriented environment. After briefly joining Massachusetts Avenue, the bikeway passes by several of Arlington's parks, culminating with the Arlington Reservoir and its summer swimming area, which converts to a winter skating pond.
Shortly after passing the Arlington Reservoir, the Minuteman Bikeway borders Great Meadows, which at 183 acres is one of the largest publicly owned open spaces in the area. Because Great Meadows has limited access from area roads, the bikeway functions as the best way to get to this beautiful park and its acres of wildflowers and wetlands. Great Meadows also offers miles of off-road hiking trails for trail users interested in stepping off the pavement of the Minuteman Bikeway.
As the bikeway continues west through Lexington and on to Bedford, it becomes increasingly clear that even more than ten years after its completion the trail is continuing to inspire community-related improvements along its historic corridor. In Lexington, the Lexington Center Depot, in association with the Lexington Historical Society, will soon become a Tourist and Exhibit Center. On the bikeway side, under the depot's train shed, bikeway users will be able to purchase drinks and snacks at the depot's former ticket windows. In front of Depot Square, the reconstructed Emery Park will feature widened sidewalks, new public benches and a loading area for local bus passengers.
In Bedford, the future Bedford Depot Park will enhance the Bedford terminus of the Minuteman Bikeway with improved landscaping, public sanitary facilities, new benches and lighting, and increased public parking. A retired Boston & Maine Railroad passenger car has already been brought to the site for restoration. In addition, the 1870s Railroad Depot and Freight House structures have been purchased for historic preservation. When completed, Bedford's Depot Park is expected to be a model Transportation Enhancements project, funded with federal TEA-21 money. | <urn:uuid:281e2d6d-bc93-4199-9143-c11c58246e3e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.railstotrails.org/news/recurringFeatures/trailMonth/archives/0304.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00052-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945447 | 615 | 1.945313 | 2 |
The Truth about GrassCycling and Thatch
To most people, the idea of leaving loose grass clippings on the lawn after mowing means an unsightly garden or, even worse, a garden prone to thatch. However the loose clippings which result from GrassCycling (or mulching) are entirely unrelated to thatch. In fact, a mower optimised for GrassCycling is likely to eliminate any thatch already present.
Thatch is a layer of dead and living shoots, stems and roots, woven tightly together between the green blades of your lawn and its soil surface. This organic matter is high in lignin – a chemical that is resistant to microbial breakdown and is very difficult to get rid of! Thatch is caused by too much lawn growth – the grass roots and stems remain dead on the lawn surface and don't decompose quickly enough.
This can be compared to a bucket with a hole in it, from which water slowly drips. If you continue to fill the bucket, the water can't escape quickly enough and will eventually spill out over the rim. In the case of your lawn, heightened growth and restricted ability to decompose result in a layer of stems and shoots that, if left in place, will continue to restrict the growth of fresh new grass.
Whilst thatch can occur if lawns are cut with lawnmowers too much or too often, the key issue is not the blades of grass, but the roots themselves. A major cause of thatch is soil with a pH above 7.2 or below 6, or soil which is particularly heavy or salty. It has also been found that the use of powerful fungicides is a significant factor in thatch development as a result of their damaging effect on soil microbes and earthworms, which are both vital in the decomposition process.
Once thatch has taken hold, the problems for your lawn are far more than cosmetic. Thatch is a layer that actively sheds its water, creating dry spots in the soil that stop the plant from getting vital nutrients. At the same time fertiliser movement is restricted by the tight 'net' of thatch, making the purchase of expensive lawn equipment a fruitless pursuit. Finally – again as a result of its tightly woven nature – thatch is an ideal home for insects which will consume or irrevocably damage your lawn, leaving you with a garden that's dry, yellow and uneven, difficult to cut with any lawnmower and, ultimately, unattractive.
GrassCycling does not contribute to thatch. Research shows that grass roots are the primary cause of the problem, not leaves or loose clippings. The small cuttings produced by a GrassCycling mower are extremely high in water – as much as 85 per cent – and contain only small amounts of lignin, the substance that restricts the decomposition of roots, stems and crowns.
In fact, if thatch is a constant worry, evenly distributing loose grass cuttings across your lawn can be beneficial. These lawn clippings are not only high in water, but also release nitrogen and other beneficial nutrients when they decompose. Whilst these substances can't compensate for years of over-fertilisation and watering that cause thatch to occur, they can help struggling roots receive everything they need in order to flourish. Over time these grass clippings can help you reduce the thatch content of your lawn to a moderate level. If the thatch layer is less than a quarter of an inch thick, it acts like a shock absorber – instead of restricting the passage of air and fluid to and from the roots, it makes your lawn more resilient and your soil less likely to become compacted.
In conclusion, thatch can be a significant problem in lawn maintenance and should be carefully treated before it gets out of hand. However, providing that your layer of thatch is within reasonable limits, incorporating grass mulching into your garden maintenance can help to prevent future occurrences of thatch. | <urn:uuid:f4367af4-883a-49a0-a712-f417a4c8d840> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.robomow.com/en-Ireland/component/content/article/171-press/4352-the-truth-about-grasscycling-and-thatch-2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96418 | 818 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Charles IIArticle Free Pass
Charles II, byname Charles the Bald, French Charles le Chauve, German Karl der Kahle (born June 13, 823—died Oct. 6, 877, Brides-les-Bain, France), king of France (i.e., Francia Occidentalis, the West Frankish kingdom) from 843 to 877 and Western emperor from 875 to 877. (He is reckoned as Charles II both of the Holy Roman Empire and of France.)
Son of the emperor Louis I the Pious and his second wife, Judith, Charles was the unwitting cause of violent discord when, in 829, he was granted lands by his father; Louis’s action precipitated a series of civil wars, lasting until 838, in which the three sons of his first marriage, Lothair I, Louis II the German, and Pippin I, strove to maintain or to increase the rights that they had been guaranteed by the succession settlement of 817, the Ordinatio imperii. Pippin died in 838, but after the death of Louis I in 840 the civil war resumed and continued until Louis the German joined with Charles to force Lothair to accept the Treaty of Verdun in 843, by which Charles received all the lands west of a line roughly following the Scheldt, Meuse, and Saône rivers, the eastern mountains of the Massif Central, and the lower reaches of the Rhône River, and Louis the German and Lothair received respectively the lands of the East Franks (Germany) and the middle kingdom, lying between the other two.
Until 864 Charles’s political situation was precarious because few vassals were loyal to him. His lands suffered from raids by Northmen, who left only after receiving bribes; he was defeated by the Bretons and, in 858, faced an invasion by Louis the German. Yet he succeeded in gaining control of Aquitaine after the capture of Pippin’s son in 864; and, by the Treaty of Meersen (870) with Louis the German, he received western Lorraine.
When Lothair’s eldest son, the emperor Louis II, died in 875, Charles went to Italy and was crowned emperor on December 25 by Pope John VIII. In 876, after the death of Louis the German, Charles invaded Louis’s possessions but was defeated at Andernach by Louis’s son, Louis III the Younger. Charles’s death in the next year occurred when another son of Louis the German, Carloman, was marching against him and when his own major vassals were in revolt.
During Charles’s reign some of the splendours of the Carolingian renaissance were revived, and his close collaboration with the church enhanced his prestige and authority.
What made you want to look up "Charles II"? Please share what surprised you most... | <urn:uuid:069568fb-10fb-4a7e-ac26-61b980ebd426> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/106851/Charles-II | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00051-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979088 | 613 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Nasal Bots in Deer: Harmless but Irritating
Nasal bots are the larvae or "maggot stage" of a specialized fly. In the scientific world this fly belongs in the genus Cephenemyia. Biologists find them in a high percentage of deer, particularly when a thorough examination of the head is conducted. These bots are specific to cervids (members of the deer family, such as elk and mule deer) in North America.
Nasal bots begin life when the adult fly lays a group of eggs around the nose or mouth of deer. The smalllarvae within these eggs are released when the deer licks the eggs. The warm, wet saliva creates an environment that permits the 'hatching' of the immature bots. These larvae then migrate to the nasal passages and occasionally into the sinuses where they molt into larger stages of the maturing larvae. The mature larvae then move to some very deep cavities in the mouth called the retropharyngeal pouches. Finally, the fully matured bots exit and pupate in the ground until emerging as adult flies that begin the life cycle again.
These bots are an obvious minor nuisance to deer as they irritate the lining of the nasal passages and move about in the retropharyngeal pouches. Some sneezing and coughing of deer is assumed to be the result of nasal bots. I have heard it falsely reported that the snorting of deer is also a condition caused by the bots. However, deer snort to provide a warning alarm to other deer. Clinically, the bots do not cause the deer any harm. No sores, infection, or other problems have been reported even when the parasites are present in large numbers.
Hunters normally encounter nasal bots after the deer they harvested begins to cool. After the deer dies, body temperature falls and the bots begin to leave the nasal passages and retropharyngeal pouches in search of more hospitable living arrangements. These bots exit through the nose or mouth. Occasionally they will be found while field dressing deer, in what the hunter thinks is the body cavity. Actually these bots have traveled down the trachea and appear to be in the body cavity of the deer. Bots are also readily seen under a deer that is ?hanging? in some stage of the field dressing or skinning process. Bots can also be found in truck beds after transporting a deer that has significantly cooled. Nasal bots are not a public health concern. They pose no disease threat to humans and do not harm the venison in any way. Deer found to harbor these harmless parasites are obviously quite safe for human consumption and should not be discarded. | <urn:uuid:505f5a70-2510-4f02-a6a5-cf1d0ca4f7e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/deer-program/diseases-and-abnormalities/nasalbots.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947317 | 553 | 2.578125 | 3 |
For Amalgamated Bank, having owners from both organized labor and the financial world is not just a marriage of convenience. The move will also help the bank take advantage of growth areas.
On Wednesday, Amalgamated Bank, long the nation’s only union-owned bank, announced that two financiers who offered it a lifeline — Wilbur L. Ross Jr. and Ronald W. Burkle — had closed a deal giving them 41 percent ownership in the bank.
Their firms each invested approximately $50 million, with Mr. Burkle’s firm, the Yucaipa Companies, bringing in Magic Johnson Enterprises as an investor in the deal.
Amalgamated had sought the investments from Mr. Ross, a prominent investor in the steel and coal industries, and Mr. Burkle, a supermarket magnate, after the New York State Banking Department ordered the bank to increase its capital ratio to 7 percent by this August, after it had slipped to 6.2 percent.
Workers United, part of the Service Employees International Union, will reduce its stake to 59 percent, from 100 percent. Noel Beasley, the president of Workers United, will remain the bank’s chairman.
Amalgamated said that the deal would not merely help it close a financing gap, but also help it expand.
“This money will give us the opportunity to grow significantly,” Edward Grebow, the bank’s chief executive, said in an interview.
Mr. Grebow said the bank would soon issue a nationwide, prepaid debit card that will provide a convenient, lower-cost way for union members and other workers — many of whom do not have bank accounts or bank cards — to manage their money and make purchases. Such products will also make it easier for many low-wage workers who do not have regular credit or debit cards to rent cars or reserve hotel rooms.
Those growth prospects helped attract the interest of the financiers.
“Amalgamated is well positioned to meet the needs of specific segments of the population who are not well served by the major banks,” Mr. Ross, chief executive and chairman of WL Ross, said in a statement. “The bank will use its stronger capital base to meet this demand.”
Investing in a union-owned bank is not a big leap for the financiers.
Mr. Ross has played a major role in revamping ailing companies in struggling, old-line industries, most notably steel and coal, where he worked closely with the United Steelworkers union. But he has occasionally battled unions when he restructured numerous steel mills, including several he bought from the bankrupt Bethlehem Steel in 2003.
Mr. Burkle is a prominent contributor to Democratic causes and has made Yucaipa a major investor in the supermarket business, having purchased stakes in Ralphs, now part of Kroger, and Pathmark, now part of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company. In that capacity, he has forged a close relationship with the nation’s largest grocery union, the United Food and Commercial Workers.
“Amalgamated’s long history of union ownership places it in a unique position to serve the financial needs of America’s labor organizations, the pension fund community and working people throughout the nation,” Mr. Burkle said in a statement.
Even as the Occupy Wall Street movement has denounced many big banks, Amalgamated has been one of the banks that has benefited from it. Amalgamated’s branch near Zuccotti Park, the square in Lower Manhattan where the Occupy demonstrators had set up camp, hung a banner voicing support for the movement.
Soon, Occupy Wall Street set up its bank account at the Amalgamated. The bank has also attracted deposits from many Occupy supporters who pulled their deposits out of major banks, maintaining that those banks had not done enough to end foreclosures and help Main Street.
As a result, Mr. Grebow said, his bank’s total number of retail depositors has doubled to 60,000 since the Occupy movement began last September.
The bank, which was founded in 1923 by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America union, now has $4.5 billion in assets. It is the nation’s largest manager of union pension funds, with its trust department managing or serving as custodian for $31 billion in assets.
In February, the Federal Reserve gave official approval for Workers United to own Amalgamated. The bank had been owned by Unite Here, a union formed by the 2004 merger of the nation’s main apparel workers union and the nation’s main hotel workers union. But that merger ended in an ugly split in 2009 with some tensions over which of the unions would own the bank.
Amalgamated now has 25 retail branches including 20 in New York, as well as branches in Washington, Las Vegas, New Jersey and California.
James Bullard, a member of the Federal Reserve’s policy committee, warned Europe of becoming trapped in the economic stasis from which Japan is only now emerging.
Rising bond yields left the central bank with less room to maneuver as it injects money into the economy, analysts said.
In the convoluted world of corporate tax accounting, corporate money that is technically overseas is often held in American banks.
Why do communities fail to secure the buildings that house their children against momentous hazards?
There are affordable ways to live more safely in tornado zones.
Poland, pushed by E.U. directives to change the way it deals with waste, is adopting a Canadian technology that allows energy to be created through the burning of trash.
The Army is trying to produce commercials styled like a television reality series because younger people increasingly ignore traditional forms of advertising.
Microsoft’s new game console also serves as a home entertainment hub, a response to the rising popularity of mobile devices for playing games.
Paul Finebaum, the radio host known for his popular college football show, will reportedly start his new job Aug. 1.
A federal judge’s ruling could halt the resale of digital music as well as other digital good like e-books.
A world-renowned physicist meets a gorgeous model online. They plan their perfect life together. But first, she asks, would he be so kind as to deliver a special package to her?
The Winklevoss brothers have moved on from their battle with Mark Zuckerberg and are more active than ever.
An important new study suggests that statins, the cholesterol-lowering medications that are the most prescribed drugs in the world, may block some of the fitness benefits of exercise, one of the surest ways to improve health.
While a recent article by Angelina Jolie about her mastectomy and reconstruction raised awareness, it may have left the impression that the surgeries are quick and easy procedures, some doctors fear.
Although most attention is focused on the safety of infants and toddlers, their sudden jabs, bites, head-butts and kicks can inflict injuries on parents and other caregivers.
To understand Yahoo’s acquisition of Tumblr, consider Yahoo’s deal for GeoCities in 1999. | For technology deal makers, business is booming. | SAC Capital Advisors is bracing for another round of withdrawal requests. | Apple avoided billions in taxes in the United States and around the world, Congressional investigators disclosed.
Sign up for the DealBook Newsletter, delivered every morning and afternoon, and receive breaking news alerts throughout the day. | <urn:uuid:4803e0f3-05b3-4472-9219-e66d903824b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/for-union-owned-bank-lifeline-offers-chance-for-growth/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965478 | 1,562 | 1.625 | 2 |
Standard notation has "f" (note lower case) representing "focal length". That is why f/stops have the `front' slash.
The entire formula is: f/(stop number) = equals diameter of aperture opening.
Bell and Howell (Remember them? - They offered a "lifetime guarantee" on their cameras - the "lifetime" was the period of the company's survival) once had a campaign to substitute "T" numbers for "f/stops": the "T" stop (for transmission of light) was based on actual measurements. Unfortunately, the numbers seemed to indicate "slower" lenses in a time when fast lenses were considered superior - | <urn:uuid:0138547f-2716-4328-843e-20bdbd5beca3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.apug.org/forums/viewpost.php?p=21220 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967564 | 140 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Weather was so cloudy all day, that we had no philosophical lecture. Tuesday evening we had a meeting of the ΦBK. Admitted Abbot, Bancroft, and Lincoln, and yesterday morning, we met again at Packard's chamber, and voted to admit Barron, Gardner and Grosvenor. Our Class having no college exercices to attend to, and many of them having now finished their parts for Commencement, are generally very indolent. Riding, and playing, and eating and drinking employ, the chief part of their time.
of Westfield, Hampshire C, will be 19 the 16th. of next month. He entered this University, with Judd, since last Commencement and has not made a conspicuous figure in the Class. This College indeed cannot boast much of the acquisitions it has made from New-Haven and Dartmouth. Angier, Kellogg,
Judd, Phelps and Willard are all either harmless and inoffensive, or malicious, and hypocritical characters. Phelps however would come under the first description; for no body ever complains of being injured by him. He is I believe one of those indifferent characters, which are neither virtuous nor vicious.
1. Phelps studied law and practiced in Granville, Mass., where he also became a town officer, state representative, and sheriff of Hampden co., 1813–1831 (Oliver Seymour Phelps, The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors..., 2 vols., Pittsfield, Mass., 1899, 1:184; Albion B. Wilson, History of Granville, Massachusetts, [Hartford, Conn.], 1954, p. 126–129). | <urn:uuid:d03a1f11-ddba-4706-9e9a-acaeeefe4dd0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.masshist.org/publications/apde/portia.php?id=DQA02d438 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967033 | 343 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Learn How to Heal Yourself, Heal Others
and Connect with the Goddess Within
“Witches do not harm…
We are the Protectors and Healers…” – Julie Carol
“I have listened to and read many arguments for and against the use of the words “Wiccan” and “Witchcraft.” I will tell you, quite honestly, that I have used both words when discussing my faith, depending on the recipients of my conversation. There are those that feel the term “Witch” is an egotistical one. Maybe so. Different words mean different things to a variety of people. Each individual must draw their own conclusion as to the terms they use to describe themselves. I personally like the word “Witch” very much. To me, it means mystery, healing, power, special, different, balance, and history. It means knowledge, secrets, the earth, and a bond with both the male and female sides of myself. Neither definition is better than the other; you must choose for yourself.” ~ Silver RavenWolf
This path is about awakening. To become Wiccan or to Be Witch is to start the journey again in this lifetime of remembering who you truly are. The awakening that is happening on the planet is causing all of us to bring forward the best of who we are as women. Wicca is the re-creation of what was forbidden, persecuted and forgotten. Every culture has managed to retain part of Her Story. And it is in the memories of Women that the healing of this planet is contained. For it is Her collective consciousness which remembers and which is now awakening.
One can be a Witch, without being Wiccan. Wicca is based on ancient practices of the Witch, the Shaman and the Wise Ones. I like to think of Wicca as the religious path and Witchcraft as the path itself. Sometimes Witchcraft is referred to as the Craft of the Wise or the Old Ways.
For me, witchcraft is the love, respect, reverence and mirth we have for each other, for all living things and for the Goddess.
It is the talents or crafts of our mothers, our sisters and our daughters. It is in my memories of my grandmother Sophie making all sorts of mysterious concoctions in the kitchen. Pickles and saurkraut, fancy cakes and mustard plasters if you were sick. She would tell me about her mother Marie and what wonderful things she remembered her mother making in her kitchen. The kitchen was always the central place, the hearth of our family. Grandma would dispense wisdom and much needed encouragement and hugs. My mother always has coffee ready at the push of a button and cookies for the children. She still clips out pictures of animals and interesting things for the grandchildren to make books out of. She has something my father called “radar” and apparently he stated that “there ought to be a law agin’ it”. Many are the times my mother’s intuition has kept me out of trouble.
For me, wicca and witchcraft are the way in which we honour the Goddess. I see Her in the trees and mountain path I walk on, and in the streams and olive coloured lake we visit in the spring. It is understanding the interconnectedness of Every Thing. We work with energy to heal and to help, to protect and to shift things from sorrow to joy.
If you are seeking power, you are on the wrong path. This is a path of the inner journey. Of self-improvement and self-discovery. The magic is found within You and so is the Goddess. For She is You and You are She. And therein lies the mystery and the magic.
She is waiting…
She is love…
She is You… | <urn:uuid:b0d9d034-5d7e-42d2-899c-f069662e57d9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sophiastemple.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966801 | 792 | 1.859375 | 2 |
By IAN SHERR
For decades, consumers have played videogames in arcades, on personal computers or specialized consoles hooked to televisions. Sony Corp. is placing a bet on a different approach—technology that streams games to Internet-connected devices.
Last week, the Japanese electronics maker announced a $380 million deal to acquire Gaikai Inc., a company that runs games on servers in its data centers. The technology lets gamers play fast-action, visually sophisticated titles through a Web browser—without the need to install specialized game software or buy hardware with special graphics circuitry. Players can use laptops, tablets, smartphones or even some TVs.
For Sony, the acquisition presents an opportunity to expand beyond its PlayStation 3 videogame console, whose growth has slowed in recent years since launching in 2006. Global sales of traditional consoles are falling as more people move online to play games.
Sony's move is a vote of confidence in the nascent technology, commonly called cloud gaming. The first prominent entrant, OnLive Inc., launched in 2010 following nearly a decade of development. Since then, a handful of competitors have sprung up, including Gaikai, an Aliso Viejo, Calif., start-up that launched in January 2011.
Next in Tech
- Watching How China Censors 7/3/2012
But game industry executives also say the technology still has technical and financial hurdles to pass before it becomes a truly viable replacement for traditional game machines.
Despite attractions such as avoiding paying at least $99 for a game console, cloud gaming services have had a modest impact so far. Industry researcher IDC estimated that OnLive had about two million customers during the first quarter of this year, based on a survey of 1,500 U.S. gamers—not much of a foothold compared to console sales by Sony and Microsoft Corp., which have each exceeded 60 million units sold.
Spokesmen for Sony and Gaikai declined to comment for this article. OnLive declined to disclose financial data as a closely held company.
The cloud companies haven't spent much marketing their technologies, which game industry executives say has hindered their growth. Software companies that are experimenting with the approach—including Electronic Arts Inc., which offers free trial versions of some games through Gaikai—say more innovation is needed before cloud gaming becomes a force.
"It has some teething to go through," said Richard Hilleman, EA's chief creative director and its expert on cloud technology.
Not that many discount the general impact of the Internet. Zynga Inc., for instance, claims more than 290 million monthly active users for its visually simpler online games. In another vein, console makers offer online services to let owners of their hardware connect and play against each other, like Sony's PlayStation Network or Microsoft's Xbox Live service.
Microsoft has experimented with its own version of cloud gaming technology in efforts to see whether it is viable, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The software company has the servers, the technology and the knowhow necessary for cloud gaming, this person added, but the technical challenges and the costs associated with building a service that can reach all Xbox customers led it to focus on building more multimedia and multiplayer technology into Xbox Live for now.
What sets apart companies like OnLive and Gaikai is that they stream the action game titles designed for consoles and gaming PCs. The processing power takes place on the company's servers, rather than in gaming consoles.
Game industry execs say running the datacenters, which cost money not just for space, but also power, cooling and a quick Internet connection, presents technical challenges that include outfitting servers with advanced graphics chips.
In a sense, they are confronting basic physics: images generated in a distant data center tend to take longer to reach customers than those created on hardware next to them, game executives say. And the response time when a customer presses a button, called latency, tends to be longer than on a traditional console or PC.
"They are 100% right that this is a really hard problem, but they are 100% mistaken that it won't be solved," said Steve Perlman, OnLive's chief executive, who added that in tests the company has been able to offer shorter latency than consoles. "We know how to get it far lower," he said.
Mr. Perlman said OnLive has dramatically lowered costs by buying and leasing servers for both visually taxing games and those for simpler chores, shifting customers from one variety to another as needed. The start-up has received financial support from several companies such as HTC Corp., Juniper Networks Inc. and Warner Bros.
Equally optimistic is Nvidia Corp., which makes graphics chips used for videogames. Its newest chip family, dubbed Kepler, can work together to create an image and send it to customers over the Internet in nearly the same amount of time as a videogame console, the company says.
Nvidia says this technology, called "GeForce GRID" and recently adopted by Gaikai, will allow multiple games to play on a single server at once, decreasing the size of data centers, and the cost of running them.
"The technical barriers will be sufficiently dealt with in the next few years," said Tony Tamasi, who heads up Nvidia's relationship with game makers.
Besides potential impact on hardware sales, cloud gaming presents questions for game publishers. They must work out with service providers how much to charge for essentially renting their products, while hoping not to hurt conventional software sales.
OnLive, for example, offers a $9.99 monthly subscription for unlimited access to more than 200 older games, but the price rises for newer titles.
An unlimited pass to THQ Inc.'s eight-month old action game "Saints Row: The Third" costs $49.99—the same price as buying the game on a disk for the Xbox 360 through THQ's online shop before shipping costs. But users can also choose to pay $6.99 for three days of unlimited playing through OnLive.
EA's Mr. Hilleman argues that pricing and other issues will keep cloud services from displacing videogame consoles for the time being. But, he said, cloud gaming does offer opportunities to reach new customers and try different pricing options.
That flexibility has been important for Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., which has featured games such as its 2009 space-age shooter, "Borderlands," as part of OnLive's subscription.
"It allows us to explore new models such as free-to-play and incremental spending," said Karl Slatoff, Take-Two's chief operating officer. He added that the lack of piracy through cloud gaming is also enticing. "We're willing to work with anyone who's legitimate and comes forward with a good platform and is well-financed."
Write to Ian Sherr at email@example.com | <urn:uuid:1b6803b9-5b03-4d77-bd71-f4cacd3e1d4c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303343404577517074213415592.html?mod=rss_whats_news_technology | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960648 | 1,412 | 1.75 | 2 |
In his fascinating presentation at Harvard Law School on September 12, 2010, Professor Sidanius discussed ways in which the legal system has been, and continues to be, used as a means to effectuate intergroup violence, particularly through the criminal justice system. Here is a video of that that talk [Duration: 54:10].
Professor Sidanius, a Harvard University professor in the departments of Psychology and African and African American Studies, focuses his research on the political psychology of gender, group conflict, and institutional discrimination, as well as the evolutionary psychology of intergroup prejudice. He runs the Sidanius Lab in Intergroup Relations, which conducts research regarding intergroup relations, social inequality, hierarchy, stereotyping, ideology, and prejudice.
You can review previous Situationist posts discussing Jim Sidanius’s work here. | <urn:uuid:f8b2a4c0-44c9-41dc-9383-1d1aa13654cf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/tag/jim-sidanius/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938569 | 168 | 2.4375 | 2 |
Powder river basin could provide natural gas for centuries instead of decades
DENVER, CO (November 16, 2004): Researchers at Luca Technologies, Inc. have made a discovery regarding natural gas production in Wyoming's Powder River Basin that could lead to a renewable source of energy for generations to come. The company today announced that laboratory evidence shows that the Powder River Basin (PRB) coals are generating natural gas in real time through the ongoing activity of anaerobic microbes (bacteria that live in the absence of oxygen) resident in those coal fields. The company has termed sites where this microbial conversion of hydrocarbon deposits (coals, organic shales, or oil) to methane occurs "GeobioreactorsTM," and believes the careful management of such sites may offer a new long-term solution to U.S. energy needs.
Robert Pfeiffer, LUCA Technologies president and chief executive officer commented, "Our research on native coal, water and microbial samples from the PRB has determined that PRB coals can produce natural gas in real time. This finding suggests that the gas in the PRB need not be an ancient remnant of microbial activity, as generally believed, but instead is being actively created today. Moreover, we can increase or decrease methane production by PRB microbes by altering their access to water or nutrients, or halt gas production entirely by exposing the organisms to oxygen or heat sterilization. This finding holds the potential of turning what is today thought to be a finite energy resource into a renewable source of natural gas that could potentially go on for hundreds of years."
LUCA believes that in order to attempt to maximize the ultimate recovery of methane from this potentially enormous natural energy resource it will be necessary to amend certain current operating practices as well as review current legal and regulatory underpinnings of energy development. The company is currently discussing its findings with Wyoming and U.S. national agencies, as well as with major energy companies working in the PRB region.
Microbial Methane Production from Coal
It has long been known that certain ancient microorganisms are "methanogens" – microbes that generate methane by metabolizing other hydrocarbon sources. While it has also been generally accepted that much of the methane resident in coal fields was produced by such organisms, most of this production was thought to have occurred millions of years ago, when the hydrocarbon deposits were less mature and closer to the surface of the earth.
More recently, however, research has suggested that living methanogenic organisms may be present and actively forming methane within some major coalfields. LUCA scientists, employing the tools of modern biotechnology and genomics, have confirmed the presence of such microbes within anaerobic core samples from the PRB. In addition to demonstrating that methane production by these microbes can be stimulated by the introduction of additional nutrient compounds, or suppressed by heat sterilization or the introduction of oxygen, LUCA has shown that radio-labeled CO2 (carbon dioxide) introduced to these PWB core samples is converted to radio-labeled methane. This demonstrates that the methane formation is the result of a biological process occurring today.
"The United States has enormous amounts of buried hydrocarbon reserves, many of which cannot be extracted in an economically or environmentally benign fashion with current technologies and production practices," said Mr. Pfeiffer. "Any of these settings, given the right set of conditions, has the potential to produce biogenic methane in a long-term, sustainable fashion."
Source: Eurekalert & othersLast reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 21 Feb 2009
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.
Sell crazy someplace else. We're all stocked up here.
-- As Good As It Gets | <urn:uuid:a19b958f-49d6-42b6-9aae-cd6822ad1908> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://psychcentral.com/news/archives/2004-11/ka-dor111504.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00074-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951983 | 770 | 3.21875 | 3 |